Rise to the Occasion: Working with Powerful Leaders

Working with powerful, Type-A execs doesn’t require ego games—it requires calm, clarity, and craft. In this Voice of Growth monologue, Manny breaks down the three patterns you’ll see in power rooms (compression, signal seeking, status instinct) and why asymmetric accountability makes leaders move fast. Then we get practical: a Stoic backbone for control and composure, Chris Voss tools (FM-DJ voice, mirroring, labeling, calibrated and no-oriented questions, accusation audits), and Robert Cialdini’s ethical influence levers. We’ll cover the biggest landmines—talking too much, being “right” instead of useful, over-promising, taking bait—and close with two humility stories that reset what power really is. Use the meeting OS and scripts to protect outcomes from egos—yours included.