Can ordinary people make a difference? Yes, says author Amy Showalter, who offers tips on how to be a persuasive underdog in “The Underdog Edge: How Ordinary People Change the Minds of the Powerful. . . and Live to Tell About It”…
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Read More!As I talk to more readers of The Underdog Edge, it’s fun to hear their stories and applications of Underdog Edge influence moments—-real-world experiences that illustrate the seven extreme influence strategies and over 50 tactics for upward influence success. I’ll be sharing them in this blog as they occur.
As I wrote in Underdog Edge, the top dogs whose minds were changed by someone “down” the food chain made a common observation—that one’s appearance matters, and that it represents a mental shortcut to help them decide whether to give access and time to that person, especially if they are younger and don’t have a long track record of success.
As I remind my audiences, if you have the…
Read More!Just in case you are having “issues” with some who think grassroots programs and PAC’s don’t belong in the workplace, here is my take on it published on CNBC’s web site: http://www.cnbc.com/id/47144504
Read More!As I stated in chapter one of The Underdog Edge, (www.underdogedge.com), there’s nothing wrong with being a “big” organization, but especially in recessionary times, “big is bad.” That is the challenge for any political candidate, as well as any organization that wants to gain trust and goodwill—you have to be very careful about how you characterize your size and power. There is a reason small business organizations get more sympathy, attention and persuasion success than large business organizations in the legislative process. See Washington Post blogger Chris Cillizza’s piece on this topic:
“Big is bad for politicians this election year as populist sentiment prevails”
What do you think? Does “big = bad” in the persuasion process?
Read More!I was gratified to see The Wall Street Journal run an opinion piece on Gina Raimondo, Rhode Island State Treasurer, for her work overhauling the state’s pension system.
I picked her as one of my “Top Underdog Persuaders of 2011”, which is featured on Fortune Management’s ’s CNN Money site: http://management.fortune.cnn.com/2011/12/30/the-most-notable-underdogs-of-2011/
I know what you are thinking—- she’s the Rhode Island State Treasurer, so she can’t be an underdog. However, underdog status is contextual; the position and resources of your influence prospect vs. your resources and position determines your underdog status. Raimondo was taking on the state public employee unions, who, when aroused, have a tendency to make public officials nervous.
If I were to study all of her…
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