Influence – Nathan Magnuson

One Critical Component to Leading Change

I had two separate experiences with leading change recently that demonstrate one critical aspect that is often the difference between success and failure. Let me share the two scenarios – see if you can guess what it is. Of course, I’ll share it as well. Scenario #1: Recently I was…

The Applause of a Single Human Being

May 7, 2018 Culture Influence Inspiration Leadership Personal Effectiveness

This post is an excerpt from my new book Ignite Your Leadership Expertise, which is available on Amazon.com. Recently I had an idea for one of my corporate leadership programs that has over 6,000 leaders enrolled. In an attempt to make the program communications more personal, I included an insightful…

5 Ways to Take the Pain Out of Giving Feedback

December 4, 2017 Communication Influence Leadership Personal Effectiveness

One of the most distasteful activities leaders face is giving negative feedback. The reason? When done well, it can still ruffle feathers. When done poorly, it’s a disaster. No one likes engaging in activities that often aren’t appreciated. Giving great feedback isn’t easy. It’s tricky, it’s not much fun and…

Simplify or Petrify

October 2, 2017 Influence Personal Effectiveness

I had a chance to work with a couple new vendors recently. The contrasts couldn’t be more stark. One is a time-tested and respected brand and product. Another is a semi-recent start-up with an innovative concept. But the differences didn’t end there. Right from the get-go, one required some initial…

12 Crucial Questions to Better Decision-Making

September 11, 2017 decision-making Influence Organizational Effectiveness Strategic Thinking

Decisions fascinate me. Occasionally they come easily. Sometimes they are difficult. Oftentimes they’re stressful. Some have huge implications. Most have a variety of influencing factors. Some decisions turn out perfectly. Some blow up entirely. Leaders are responsible for making important decisions that by nature aren’t easy. In fact, in a…

Dealing in Hope

January 9, 2017 Character Influence Inspiration Personal Effectiveness

Napoleon Bonaparte claimed, “A leader is a dealer in hope.” Hope is a strangely human enigma. It can’t be handled but it can be shared. It can’t create anything on its own but it can pave the way for new accomplishments. Whether you’re celebrating a new beginning (like the start…

Expertise Matters!

November 21, 2016 Influence Personal Effectiveness

Years ago I served as a consultant to two non-governmental organizations (NGOs) that worked closely together. At one, the head accountant was a friendly woman who very much enjoyed her job. But on several occasions, there were questions regarding the way the numbers added up and we had to work…

Be Known Positively

March 7, 2016 Influence Personal Effectiveness

Recently I shared 9 Leadership themes for the new year, including this one: be known positively. I’m realizing this particular theme is harder that it seems. But that doesn’t change the fact that you and I are largely responsible for our public perception. So how can we build positive interactions and relationships with…

12 Ways to Make Your Teammates Look Good

February 15, 2016 Influence Organizational Effectiveness Personal Effectiveness

In the past, I’ve shared the value of being a “Kamerman teammate” – that is, going the extra mile to make your teammate look good. It’s a mindset shift for most of us, and a complete game-changer at that. I’d like to take this concept a step further and share some practical ways to…

Be a Millenial Who Shines at Work

October 5, 2015 Influence Personal Effectiveness

2015 was a big year for Millenials. According to Pew Research Center, Millenials became the largest generation in the U.S. workforce in 2015. I recently shared my thoughts on Eric Jacobson’s leadership website about how managers can engage their Millenial employees. What I’d like to do next is share how…

How to Influence When You’re Not in Charge

September 7, 2015 Influence Organizational Effectiveness Personal Effectiveness

How do you lead when you’re not the boss? It’s hard enough to lead when you are in charge. What are the other options? If you’ve wondered this, I’ve got good news for you. It’s a lot easier than it sounds. And you can get started today. Here’s a game…

Whose “Guy” Are You?

April 20, 2015 Communication Influence Strategic Thinking

“I’ve got a guy.” That was one of the key messages of a sales training event I visited recently. The new sales consultants were supposed to realize they didn’t need to know everything about the services they were providing – they had plenty of other “experts” to support various parts of the…