7 Influential Insights:

National Speakers AssociationInternational Conference

July 2015

by denise lee yohn

7/26/2015 1© 2015 Denise Lee Yohn, Inc.

(image credit: Bisma Rahman)

insights about influence, influencers, influencing, and being influenced

© 2015 Denise Lee Yohn, Inc.

Recognize that you write a story… anticipate edits.

When we meet someone, we begin writing a story about them. This is OK, but we should be genuinely curious about them and want to learn new information so our story can be more accurate.

-- Jessica Pettitt

© 2015 Denise Lee Yohn, Inc.

Leaders are readers.

Almost all great leaders practice the routine, “Always be learning.” They read voraciously and set aside regular, large chunks of time to read and think. To assess someone’s leadership potential, use a gating question: “What have you been reading lately?”

-- Verne Harnish

(image credit: hoohirewire)

© 2015 Denise Lee Yohn, Inc.

People don’t buy topics,

they buy solutions.

Speakers often promote themselves with the topic they speak on; but people who hire speakers are more interested in the problem a speaker will help them solve. Same goes for consultants, job seekers, etc.

-- Kelly McDonald

© 2015 Denise Lee Yohn, Inc.

Become passionate about your gift.

Most people think they should follow their passion. But you’ll be more successful if you apply your natural, inherent strengths and develop a passion for what you’re good at.

-- Chef Jeff Henderson

(image credit: i-square.us)

© 2015 Denise Lee Yohn, Inc.

Be an idea leader – not a thought

leader.

Thoughts are fleeting; ideas are the real currency of business.

-- Neen James

© 2015 Denise Lee Yohn, Inc.

Jenn Lim has worked alongside Tony Hsieh to build a culture of happiness at Zappos. Their work is, as she puts it, “sucking the fluff out of happiness” and proving the business case for it as a leadership principle.

Lessons learned from building a company that delivers happiness:1. Commitment – stick to your culture even when it

doesn’t make sense2. Core values – personal and company values should be

aligned3. Transparency – be true to your weird, authentic self4. Purpose – be clear about why you do what you do5. Relationships – make personal emotional connections6. The Right Team – hire slow; fire fast

-- Jenn Lim

© 2015 Denise Lee Yohn, Inc.

Honor

We owe it to our clients to treat every engagement as if it were the first time – and the last time – we’ll get to be with them. A good philosophy for any relationship!

your audience.-- Mark Sharenbroich

© 2015 Denise Lee Yohn, Inc.

by Denise Lee Yohn, keynote speaker and author of

What Great Brands Do:The Seven Brand-Building Principles That Separate the Best from the Rest

(Jossey-Bass)

http://deniseleeyohn.com@deniseleeyohn