How to Influence a Skeptical Audience in Three Simple Steps
May 11th, 2021
@11:00 AM EST
Being influential can be challenging in-and-of-itself; being influential with a skeptical audience poses its own unique difficulties. Engaging with people who seem dubious or doubtful in the face of your really good ideas can feel like being in a mental tug of war.
Andrea P. Howe, co-author of The Trusted Advisor Fieldbook and Founder of The Get Real Project, will lead an interactive “deep dive” discussion on three critical steps required to help a skeptical audience hear what you have to say. Specifically, you’ll learn:
- Why you should actually celebrate that they’re resistant;
- How to open the conversation or presentation in an unexpected way that’s unexpectedly effective;
- Specific techniques to listen masterfully while your audience has their guard up; and
- How and when to bring your perspectives into the exchange.
In June, I began a series of Weekly Tips dedicated to White corporate people like me to help us all better understand what’s required to build trust across racial differences. This one adds to my posts on 