Entries by Brian Ahearn, CMCT®

To Reciprocate, or Not to Reciprocate, That is the Question

To reciprocate, or not to reciprocate, that is the question: Whether it’s right to absorb Words or actions that are untrue or unjust, Or to retaliate, returning insult or slight for insult or slight   Dr. Robert Cialdini’s principle of reciprocity is one of the most powerful drivers of human behavior. It’s built into each […]

Assume Positive Intent: The Influence of Giving Grace

Earlier this year, I delivered a full-day training event for a client. The session went well—until the debrief. The CEO passed along a bit of feedback: a couple of attendees were put off by a response I gave during the Q&A. The Scenario? During the training, a participant asked how I’d respond if a young […]

The Spotlight Effect—It’s Not About You or Me

Last week, I wrote about integrity and the importance of doing the right thing, regardless of who might be watching. This week, I want to flip the spotlight—literally—and talk about something called the spotlight effect. If you’re not familiar with the term, here’s the short version: The spotlight effect is the tendency to think that people […]

Just Do It (The Right Thing)

You’ve probably heard by now about the Coldplay concert and the “Kiss Cam” controversy involving the CEO and head of HR from Astronomer. If not, either you’ve tuned out the news or you’ve been living under a rock. This isn’t a post to pile on. I’m sure those individuals are experiencing plenty of shame and […]

Love, Unity, and Life-Changing Moments

“When the most important things in our life happen, we quite often don’t know what’s going on.”—C.S. Lewis, Mere Christianity That quote hit me over the weekend. It’s amazing how a decision that feels ordinary in the moment can turn out to be extraordinary in hindsight. Looking back, there are three moments that changed the course […]

Moving Business from Transactional to Relational

This week I’m in Houston working with a client, and getting here is a perfect example of why moving business from transactional to relational changes everything. About six years ago, I spent a few days with this same client, providing one-on-one sales and influence training for their lead salesperson. We capped it off with a day listening […]

The Overlap of Unity and Love

Everything changed in March when our first grandchild, Emmett, arrived. It’s hard to describe the joy this little guy brings simply by existing. We’re blessed that Abigail and Tyler live only ten minutes away, allowing us to see Emmett multiple times a week and watch him grow. As I see him discover the world, I […]

Quarterly Newsletter – Summer Updates

I hope your summer is off to a great start and that you’ve got some fun planned with family and friends. For us, the past few months have revolved around two things: a trip to Europe and our grandson, Emmett. If you saw my post in early June, then you already know about our time […]

Influence Gone Wrong: A Lesson from the Desert

If you’ve been following me recently, you know I’ve been head down writing my next book, Influenced from Above: Where Faith and Influence Meet. It’s due out this fall, and it’s a project that’s deeply personal because faith is the most important part of my life. My goal with the book is to explore how […]