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Showalter Group
Public conferences & workshops
Public Conferences & Workshops
Amy conducts the “Innovate to Motivate Community Quarterly” (I2M CQ) lunch meetings. These meetings (thus far!) have no registration fee. I2M community members vote on the quarterly topics. Amy adds the color commentary and designs interactive exercises and discussion to facilitate the candid exchange of accomplishments and challenges. To be invited to an I2M CQ, email us at info@showaltergroup.com.
Amy is invited to speak at select national government relations conferences that are open to the public. Please check her LinkedIn page to learn of those opportunities.
The Underdog Edge: What It Is, How to Get It, and Why You Need it For Persuasion Success
No matter your current station in life, there will come a time when you have to “influence up.” To get what you want, you’ll have to change the mind of someone more powerful than yourself—whether a potential client, legislator, your corporate board or CEO. And powerful people are different. The typical influence tactics you may have read about for general influence situations don’t often work with powerful people.
Many influence tips address peer influence (negotiation) and downward influence (leadership). From her book (The Underdog Edge: How Ordinary People Change the Minds of the Powerful . . .and Live to Tell About It, published by Morgan James) which includes the findings from thousands of survey responses and interviews with “underdog” influencers and who they persuaded, Amy shares the seven principles of upward influence, and the tactics that work in the real world when influencing up. She backs up her findings with the latest peer-reviewed research that validates the approach of successful upward influencers. Her findings debunk long – held influence myths like “be passionate and you’ll win” and “one person can make a difference.”
While she discovered over 50 tactics used by persuasive underdogs, highlights include:
- The one tactic you must use if you want to change a powerful person’s mind
- How to build trust quickly with those who are apathetic and even averse to your position
- Why showing passion for your cause dooms your request when influencing up (except when two conditions are present)
- Why the past is prologue when influencing up, and how you can leverage your reputation in your favor (even if you are a “big dog” compared to your influence prospect)
- How to recognize your influence prospect’s “taboo trade-offs” when negotiating
- The three characteristics of persuasive teams that make their efforts more effective
- Why making your influence prospect a hero is so important and how to convey hero status to them (even if you don’t like them)
- The importance of your visual vocabulary – how to “show up” for influence success
Likable, trustworthy and entertaining – ”The AANA has worked with Amy for three years now, and she never disappoints. She is a phenomenal speaker who our members find likable, trustworthy and entertaining. Amy includes personal experiences and stories into her presentations which help to convey advocacy topics she drives home. Her knowledge and work on grassroots advocacy and expertise in PAC contributions help our members become energized and ready for the years ahead. Amy also adds a personal touch to her presentations by reaching out to our own members directly to obtain information on topics that are near and dear to our profession’s heart. Amy has been extremely flexible with the COVID-19 pandemic and has worked with our ever changing formats to accommodate our needs either virtually or live. We look forward to having Amy back in coming years!”
“I’ve been on Capitol Hill and in professional association government affairs for 25 years, and Amy’s ‘Underdog Edge’ uniquely captures the spirit that makes a difference: that even in this polarized time, governments, organizations and their officials run on trust. Build trust, earn trust, and be relentlessly worthy of trust, and find two things. One is that your issue can make progress. Two is that being the fat-cat overdog ain’t all that.”
“The Underdog Edge information that you provided to our students is priceless and something that every public affairs professional should have in their tool kit. Moreover the “on-the-ground” accounts are such an effective learning tool and why your teaching is so effective – you are able to provide theory, data, and firsthand illustrations. You’re a professor at heart!”
The Showalter Group works with associations and corporations that want to increase their grassroots and PAC productivity. We provide highly customized solutions via grassroots consultation, public affairs staff and volunteer training, coaching for public affairs staff, keynote presentations, and grassroots project managment.
To book Amy Showalter to speak at your next meeting, or to inquire about our grassroots or PAC consulting services or other products, contact us at:
The Showalter Group, Inc.
3805 Edwards Road
Suite 550
Cincinnati, OH 45209
p: 513.762.7668 | Amy@showaltergroup.com