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Influence can win clients, open doors and create opportunities. But where does influence end and manipulation begin?
In this episode, Russell Pearson and I get into the darker side of influence: how persuasion works, how other people and systems are influencing you, and how to become more influential without crossing the line into manipulation.
Russell's argument is that real influence isn't about follower counts or becoming some kind of social-media "influencer". It's about being trusted, being invited into the right rooms, being considered when you're not there, and being able to help people move toward better outcomes.
We get into:
How influence differs from manipulation
Why intention matters when you're persuading someone
How advertising, social media, algorithms and AI influence your thinking
Why conviction and communication matter more than tricks
How influence creates access to clients, opportunities and stronger networks
Why consultants shouldn't simply "do the work" for clients
How to help clients build confidence and capability instead
Why real influence has very little to do with audience size
For consultants, advisors, founders and leaders, this is really a conversation about how you move people without becoming manipulative — and how you protect yourself from the influence being directed at you.
Russell also shares the thinking behind the upcoming Influences event in Sydney and why he and Kirryn Zerna have become slightly obsessed with pulling apart communication, persuasion and influence.
00:00 — How context changes the way you position yourself
03:05 — What do you actually want influence to achieve?
04:56 — Real influence has nothing to do with TikTok followers
07:51 — How influence creates clients, opportunities and access
09:52 — Influence vs leadership
12:01 — Competition, strategy and the levers of influence
16:26 — The dark side: influence vs manipulation
20:17 — Persuasion, reciprocity and ethical influence
23:14 — Using influence with consulting clients
27:44 — Why Russell and Kieran created Influences
29:52 — How to apply influence to a specific busines
More about Russell, Visit: https://russellpearson.com
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