Jim LukaszewskiAmerica's Crisis Guru® - BETA

Major takeaways from "Influencing Leaders"

Name: Major takeaways from "Influencing Leaders"
Uploaded: 2026-10-13T18:53:28+00:00
Duration: 1 min 51 s
Channel: Jim Lukaszewski
Description: In this brief discussion, the speakers distill the core premise of the book "Influencing Leaders". They argue that communicators should move beyond…

13 Oct 2026 · 2 min

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1:51

In this brief discussion, the speakers distill the core premise of the book "Influencing Leaders". They argue that communicators should move beyond traditional public‑relations and communications concerns and instead focus on the personal career and life challenges senior executives face. By starting the conversation at that level, practitioners can more effectively become "influencers". The term "influencer" is redefined here as "influencing up"—targeting an audience of one, namely the senior leader (CEO, university president, nonprofit director, senior military officer, or government official). The ultimate goal is to equip these leaders to become their best selves, thereby driving change within their organizations, sectors, industries, and society at large.

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The book continues this tradition of shifting your thinking from public relations and communications issues first to what the executives themselves are facing in their careers and in their lives, and starting there as a place of having contact. It makes a tremendous difference, and it's the key really to elevating yourself to this, this really important position of becoming an influencer.
The word influencer has taken on a lot of meanings in the last few years. We intend it to mean influencing up, not influencing out. So we are influencing at any given time essentially an audience of one, and that's the senior leader. Whether it's the CEO or a university president or a not-for-profit executive director or a senior military officer or a government official, we are in the business of influencing the people who lead or run big and complex organizations. We are helping to equip others to be influencers of leaders influencing up to an audience of one, but the audience who, who can actually get things done if they can become the best leader they can be. And part of our mission in the world is to help equip people to be the best leaders they can be in ways that inspire change in their organizations, in their sectors, in their industries, and ultimately in society at large.