Mastering Influence: Your Key to Success

SummaryOn this episode of Service Evolution, hosts Shawn Black and Jim Robinson continue their insightful conversation on success in the service industry with the incredible Ria Story, a leading speaker, author, coach, and podcast host. In Ria’s most recent book, The Ladder of Influence, the author provides a powerfully simple five-step framework that will help you realize practical steps you can take to increase your influence and become a more effective leader. Throughout the episode, Shawn, Jim, and Ria discuss how The Ladder of Influence can be your secret weapon in navigating the complexities of human interaction, fostering meaningful connections, and excelling in leadership roles. Ria shares real-life stories and actionable tips for boosting your influence and building trust in both your personal and professional life. Show Notes(1:27) Introducing Ria Story(3:21) The Ladder of Influence(10:56) Using the Ladder of Influence to Make a Positive Impact(14:08) Determining Your Level of Influence(18:59) Forging Meaningful Connections Between People(28:49) How the Ladder of Influence Prepares You for Difficult Moments(33:45) Utilizing the Power of Influence in the Service Industry(36:24) Ria’s Advice to Leaders in the Service Industry(37:49) Closing ThoughtsLinksShawn BlackJim Robinson CGP Maintenance and ConstructionRia Story RiaStory.com Quotes“It’s when the problems happen, the crisis comes up, when a client is unhappy, or when there’s a customer job that goes wrong, right? And then we choose to be proactive and rise above anger or frustration or hurt in that moment, and we choose the right response. That’s when we can increase our influence.” - Ria Story, (7:31)“Anytime we are mad, sad, or frustrated in a situation, that’s a red flag that says, ‘I don’t have enough influence in that situation.’ Anytime you’re frustrated or mad or upset, it’s because you wanted to influence somebody to do something they don’t want to do or not do something they do want to do. So when you find that emotion there, it’s because you feel powerless in that situation.” - Ria Story, (14:27)“Leadership is both incredibly dynamic and incredibly simple. When we define leadership as influence, that’s an incredibly simple concept. We all want influence. But leadership can also be incredibly dynamic because people are dynamic, and every single one of us is different. And that’s why it’s so important to focus on the principles and applying the principles of leadership and influence instead of the practices.” - Ria Story, (19:25)