Chapter Meeting July 2023 - David Mantica: The Art and Science of Influence

Presentation Title: ​The Art and Science of Influence​

Presentation Description: As organizations flatten to meet the dramatic impact disruption and change present, the dynamics of influence are changing rapidly. The old concept of managing up and managing down, although still around, are being replaced by executing and engaging horizontally throughout the entire organization. To become an effective and valuable influencer, you must show you can get things done while navigating the complexities around you. You want to be known as a “lynchpin” and someone who executes.  Flat organizations might at first seem simple to work within. But the reality is much different. They can bring more politics and roadblocks as the number of people involved in decisions increase. When you democratize the decision making in an organization, things will slow down and there will be some level of dysfunction, but the outcomes are worth the investment. The better you get at influence the less impactful the dysfunction and the more valuable the outcomes. This presentation explains the psychology of influence and techniques you can use to effectively influence. It will help you understand power bases and discern which powers bases to use in your influencing. Give you better understanding of the mistakes you are making and how to overcome those mistakes 

You will learn: 

• The basics of psychology and how to utilize those basics to influence more effectively 
• How power impacts influence 
• Understanding Power bases and which work most effectively for influencers 
• Professional skills required to be a strong influencer 
• High level influencer techniques ​

Speaker Biography: ​David Mantica serves as Vice President and General Manager for SoftEd US. Fueled by his passion for developing empowered knowledge workers, he helps companies develop their teams through training and coaching, equipping them with today’s critical skills needed to work effectively in a volatile, uncertain, complex and ambiguous (VUCA) world. Drawing from his experience in successfully building a B2B training firm, growing it from scratch to $13M in seven years. David speaks and shares his insights and tactics on the impact of technology on leadership and management. His work at SoftEd helps organizations not only cope but thrive even with the ever-changing demands and complexities of modern business. With over 30 years of experience and more than 700 speaking engagements, he inspires better work practices in marketing, product management, project management, software development, executive management, and other key areas of technology and business operations. David’s home base is Raleigh-Durham, NC. From here he provides consulting to business owners here and worldwide. Driven by his love for helping people grow while maintaining their mental health, he also mentors several rising executive leaders, providing pro bono career coaching services that utilize his career insurance methodology. David is well known for his Manticaisms, a unique ability to refine or as he might say butcher the English language. His playful demeanor and style attracts and humanizes us all. ​