Persuasion Paradox and Executive Presence

A woman smiles on a sunny path, beside a quote about personal choice and the limits of persuasion, by Jamie Lee.

Maybe you're thinking, "What?! Isn't negotiating about convincing people? Isn't that what you teach?" 

Allow me to explain. 

My clients often negotiate and secure job offers, raises, and additional headcount for their growing teams. 

But the SECRET SAUCE to their success isn't that they convince -- or contort their communication tactics inauthentically, or push their perspective on others in an aggressive and unethical way. 

The most powerful way to engage in negotiation, career conversations, and even heated discussions with your beloved about where to go on vacation this summer is two-pronged: 

1. Make an empowered choice about HOW you want to show up, or the version you most want to be 

AND 

2. Embrace the Paradox of Persuasion: 

The more WILLING you are to be misunderstood or perhaps to disappoint, the more ready and versatile you will be at speaking up, presenting the relevant data, what it means for them, and saying what you want. 

Consider the willingness to be misunderstood or to disappoint (hello overworked perfectionists and people pleasers, hi, I'm looking at you). 

This doesn't mean you give up on giving your concerted effort or go silent. The inverse happens. 

When you make a conscious decision about who you want to be (your own champion, for example), and when you relinquish the reins over what's beyond your control (other people's minds) you GAIN more personal power to communicate in a free, balanced, and clear way.

Paradoxically, that's what creates more satisfying agreements and palpable executive presence, compelling the right people to be drawn to you and your ideas, as your sense of inner and outer alignment grows, leading to fulfillment -- NO MATTER who thinks you're wrong or loses out on the privilege of working with you. 

That's real power, and that's what I'm wishing for you today, Jamie. 

If this is also what you are looking for, I can help you.