Relationships at Work - a trust-driven leadership podcast How Influence Really Works at Work
Influence gets thrown around like a leadership buzzword — but most people misunderstand what it actually is. It’s not authority. It’s not persuasion. And it’s definitely not performance.
In this episode of Relationships at Work, Russel sits down with author and former CIO Brad Englert to unpack the real mechanics of influence inside organizations — the kind that builds trust, shifts culture, and turns critics into advocates.
Brad shares stories from his career at Accenture and the University of Texas that reveal:
- Why influence is rooted in understanding goals, setting expectations, and genuinely caring
- How culture change actually happens (and why it starts with consistency, not heroics)
- Why “haters” are often your best opportunity for relationship-building
- How to map your influence — and who’s influencing you
- The mindset leaders need before they can expect influence to work
If you want influence that lasts longer than your job title, this conversation shows you how to build it.
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