Latest news with #CharlesGreen
Forbes
5 days ago
- General
- Forbes
The Psychology Of Influence And The Making Of A Thought Leader
As a thought leader, earning trust from your audience is essential. getty Why are we drawn to thought leaders? When we hear them speak or read their articles or books, what happens in our brains that spurs us to follow them? It all comes down to the psychology of influence, the subconscious processes that drive audiences to pay attention to what people we respect have to say. While there's certainly an art to becoming a thought leader, the roots of establishing a connection with your audience are also grounded in neuroscience. Our brains are wired to seek and connect with those who offer valuable insights and guidance. Research shows that perceived expertise and authority can enhance the persuasiveness of their message by influencing brain activities in areas associated with memory and attitude formation. The psychology of influence in the thought leadership context is a two-way street, involving both why the thought leader's audience responds positively or negatively, and the keys to how the thought leader can reach and attract people to their persona and message. As a thought leader, earning trust from your audience is essential to connecting with them. The components necessary in building trust are well defined in The Trust Equatio by David H. Maister, Charles H. Green, and Robert M. Galford. The Trust Equation uses four objective variables in this formula to measure trustworthiness. Credibility + Reliability + Intimacy / Self-orientation Here's what each variable in The Trust Equation means: Finding ways to emotionally and informationally connect with your audience as a storyteller, in written content or as a speaker, is key. That's storytelling with a purpose, and it will help your audience better understand you and your message. Well-told stories stay with us, especially when those stories move us, recall an experience common to many, or present a solution that relieves pain points that lots of people feel. Good storytelling as a connector is directly related to neuroscience. A white paper by University of North Carolina professor Heidi Schultz shows how stories create strong connections between speakers and audiences. Schultz reported that 'fMRI scanning suggests that speaker and listener brain patterns synchronize more closely during a story being told and listened to.' Personalizing or humanizing stories can reach people on a deep emotional level. When hearing a good, meaningful story, the brain releases oxytocin, known as the bonding hormone, which causes listeners to think about similar stories or themes in their own lives. Showing readers and listeners your vulnerability and humility as a thought leader are central to making you relatable to your audience and integral to authentic storytelling. Pointing out your flaws, remembering getting fired, being at a low point, inspiring people and giving them hope by recalling how you overcame adversity or reinvented yourself—all these human experiences put the thought leader on the same plane as their audience. It says to them, 'We're all in this together and learning together.' Connecting with your audience—and growing your audience—can happen when you're authentic. That authenticity stems not only from revealing your struggles but also from focusing on your listeners' and readers' curiosity, the concerns and problems they face, and seeking to understand them and help them. It's all of those things—more than the thought leader defending their own ideas or focusing primarily on telling them everything they know. However you tell it, remember to be intentional in portraying your message in a way that is going to educate and entertain at the same time. And in the big picture, remember this: This relationship between you, the thought leader, and your audience can't be fleeting. It's about building a continual ecosystem for your thought leadership. You don't want to be a flash in the pan. You want your stories to have lasting legs and to stand the test of time. Many entrepreneurs and thought leaders have a natural proclivity to challenge the status quo and think original thoughts—i.e., 'What if we tried this? Here is a better way.' Those traits differentiate them as a visionary thought leader from somebody who's just a subject-matter expert. They see headwinds coming and run toward them as an opportunity. They challenge the status quo. They think outside of the box, possess a high level of optimism, and they're risk-takers. As an example in my career: When I thought about my company becoming the business book publisher for Forbes Media, I believed in it and stood behind it, and had a meeting with Steve Forbes. If you don't ask for it, you don't get it. Research on creative problem solving indicates how brains can respond favorably to the thought leader when presented with an 'Aha!' moment of discovery. Surprising information—a novel idea or different perspective, such as a challenge to the status quo—can trigger a dopamine release in the brain's reward centers. That leads to a potential increase in audience attention and engagement. So, for the thought leader, the psychology of influence is also much about being open to thinking creatively, and getting their audience to do the same. Reaching your audience as a thought leader, keeping their attention, and increasing your following is indeed both an art and a science. Research shows they can be receptive if you take the right approach—by building trust, telling a compelling story, being authentic, vulnerable, curious, creative, and bold. A successful thought leader is in it for the right reasons, making an impact on others that will make the world a better place.
CBS News
20-05-2025
- CBS News
Chicago firefighters to attend hearing for man charged with murder of CFD Capt. David Meyer
Firefighters to attend hearing for man charged with murder of CFD Capt. David Meyer Firefighters to attend hearing for man charged with murder of CFD Capt. David Meyer Firefighters to attend hearing for man charged with murder of CFD Capt. David Meyer Chicago firefighters plan to be at the Leighton Criminal Courthouse on Tuesday for the hearing of a man accused in the arson death of CFD Capt. David Meyer. Charles Green, 44, has been charged with first-degree murder and aggravated arson in the garage fire that killed Meyer on the West Side last month. Green is due to appear in court on Tuesday, and Cook County prosecutors could announce a formal grand jury indictment in the case. Meyer, 54, was among the firefighters who responded to the garage fire last month in the 5500 block of West Crystal Street. After the fire was put out , the garage collapsed and a beam struck Meyer, killing him. Chicago Fire Fighters Union Local 2 said they plan to be in court to support Meyer and his family as Green appears in court, and they expect prosecutors will announce a grand jury indictment against Green. Investigators have said Green was seen on video surveillance alone in the alley before the fire started, with a glowing object in his hand that appeared to be an open flame. Green lives just 12 lots east of the home where the fire happened. Meyer was a 29-year veteran of the Chicago Fire Department. Green is being held at the Cook County Jail as he awaits trial.
Yahoo
15-02-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Letters to the Editor: My father helped build USAID. We can't let one billionaire destroy it
To the editor: My father, Charles Green, lived in Malibu from 1985 until his death at age 93 in 2011. For more than two decades prior to moving to Malibu, he lived overseas working for United States Agency for International Development, or USAID. ("Trump and Musk crippled our most important global aid agency. The consequences are grim," Opinion, Feb. 7) He served in Colombia, the Dominican Republic, Peru, Vietnam, Indonesia and Liberia. In these countries he provided professional development for teachers and educational administrators, built new schools, modernized curriculum, brought learning to rural areas through radio classes and established community colleges so that more students would have access to higher education. Workers like him are who make up what Elon Musk called a "criminal" organization. I understand that most people won't know what we are losing if USAID remains shuttered, but here is just a small list: programs to improve educational outcomes and access, medical treatment, vaccine delivery, disease prevention and containment, and food and shelter for those displaced by war or natural disasters. In addition to being heartsick to see the vilification of an organization my dad helped build, we should also not lose sight of how destroying USAID is also shredding our Constitution. We can't let unelected billionaires take away the power of Congress. Marilyn Green, Malibu .. To the editor: I have lived and worked in the developing world and seen firsthand the benefits of American foreign aid supplied by USAID. I was a Peace Corps volunteer in Chad and Malawi. When I was a kid in the 1960s, my father taught at the Polytechnic of the University of Malawi, which was built and staffed in part by USAID. I have now seen our generous country become cruel and misguided. It is a sad thing to see. Fred Barker, Burbank .. To the editor: I cannot unsee a recent televised newsclip of Musk proudly toting one of his children on his shoulders as he strides through the halls of our country's Capitol. But with his illegal and shameful attempt to shut down USAID, Musk now carries on his shoulders the disease-ridden and starving, skeletal bodies of children around the world. How proud are you now, Mr. Musk? And how proud will your children be of you when they realize the degree of cruelty of which you are capable? Mary Proteau, Los Angeles This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
Los Angeles Times
15-02-2025
- Politics
- Los Angeles Times
Letters to the Editor: My father helped build USAID. We can't let one billionaire destroy it
To the editor: My father, Charles Green, lived in Malibu from 1985 until his death at age 93 in 2011. For more than two decades prior to moving to Malibu, he lived overseas working for United States Agency for International Development, or USAID. ('Trump and Musk crippled our most important global aid agency. The consequences are grim,' Opinion, Feb. 7) He served in Colombia, the Dominican Republic, Peru, Vietnam, Indonesia and Liberia. In these countries he provided professional development for teachers and educational administrators, built new schools, modernized curriculum, brought learning to rural areas through radio classes and established community colleges so that more students would have access to higher education. Workers like him are who make up what Elon Musk called a 'criminal' organization. I understand that most people won't know what we are losing if USAID remains shuttered, but here is just a small list: programs to improve educational outcomes and access, medical treatment, vaccine delivery, disease prevention and containment, and food and shelter for those displaced by war or natural disasters. In addition to being heartsick to see the vilification of an organization my dad helped build, we should also not lose sight of how destroying USAID is also shredding our Constitution. We can't let unelected billionaires take away the power of Congress. Marilyn Green, Malibu .. To the editor: I have lived and worked in the developing world and seen firsthand the benefits of American foreign aid supplied by USAID. I was a Peace Corps volunteer in Chad and Malawi. When I was a kid in the 1960s, my father taught at the Polytechnic of the University of Malawi, which was built and staffed in part by USAID. I have now seen our generous country become cruel and misguided. It is a sad thing to see. Fred Barker, Burbank .. To the editor: I cannot unsee a recent televised newsclip of Musk proudly toting one of his children on his shoulders as he strides through the halls of our country's Capitol. But with his illegal and shameful attempt to shut down USAID, Musk now carries on his shoulders the disease-ridden and starving, skeletal bodies of children around the world. How proud are you now, Mr. Musk? And how proud will your children be of you when they realize the degree of cruelty of which you are capable? Mary Proteau, Los Angeles
