You Have More Influence Than You Think

How We Underestimate Our Power of Persuasion, and Why It Matters

By: Vanessa Bohns

Narrated by: Eileen Stevens

An original investigation of our hidden power to persuade, and how to wield it wisely.

If you’ve ever felt ineffective, invisible, or inarticulate, chances are you weren’t actually any of those things. Those feelings may instead have been the result of a lack of awareness we all seem to have for how our words, actions, and even our mere presence affect other people.

In You Have More Influence Than You Think, social psychologist Vanessa Bohns draws from her original research to illustrate why we fail to recognize the influence we have, and how that lack of awareness can lead us to miss opportunities or accidentally misuse our power.

Weaving together compelling stories with cutting-edge science, Bohns answers the questions we all want to know (but may be afraid to ask): How much did she take to heart what I said earlier? Do they know they can push back on my suggestions? Did he notice whether I was there today? Will they agree to help me if I ask?

Whether attending a meeting, sharing a post online, or mustering the nerve to ask for a favor, we often assume our actions, input, and requests will be overlooked or rejected. Bohns and her work demonstrate that people see us, listen to us, and agree to do things for us much more than we realize - for better, and worse.

You Have More Influence Than You Think offers science-based strategies for observing the effect we have on others, reconsidering our fear of rejection, and even, sometimes, pulling back to use our influence less. It is a call to stop searching for ways to gain influence you don’t have and to start recognizing the influence you don’t realize you already have.

©2021 Vanessa Bohns (P)2021 Blackstone Publishing

Fantastic topic

I enjoyed this book from start to finish. The mix of stories and scientific data made it quite interesting. I also loved the narrator. I would highly recommend this book.

great perspective, great advice

This was a very insightful book. As an introvert I found many of the stories and examples to be relatable. I will definitely be listening to this again.

Brilliant book. The title says it all.

I have read a lot of books on influencing, and this is by far the best. Also the easiest to implement, with the best description of how bias and power differentials can complicate things. Wish I could have given 6 stars!

Brilliant, Fun, and Thought-Provoking!

I cannot emphasize enough how much I enjoyed this audiobook! Dr. Bohns is a brilliant researcher and clearly a phenomenal professor. She weaves together so many fascinating studies in such a digestible way (many are her own, so you know she knows what she is talking about) and applies them to everyday life perfectly. It was fun (in my opinion, all great books should quote The Devil Wears Prada), thought provoking, and has influenced the ways I've interacted with others since I read it. Highly recommend!

Life changing thoughts on realizing what people already think of you

Cases showing that many of us focus on getting influence we already have or on the flip side, don’t realize how uncomfortable we can make someone by ignoring that influence.

Highly Data and Information; skip the politics

I'll start off with I am a bug fan of self-enhancement. This book falls easily into that category with excellent insights and strategies for managing daily interactions, where fear of rejection may be involved. Come for the study and data, don't take the political bait laden in these pages, though.

Great insights

Builds self confidence and ways to get out your own mind to ask for help

I got what was needed

It was a snooze fest. I don’t know if it was the narrator, but it probably was. That doesn’t take away from the information that I got from it. I will listen again. I feel like I learned a lot.

Eye opener

This was an eye opener and gave me a glimpse of the silence influence we actually have.