In “The Art of Woo” by G. Richard Shell and Mario Moussa, the authors outline five leadership approaches to persuasion:

1. Driver

2. Commander

3. Promoter

4. Chess Player

5. Advocate

In 2000, when I was 25, I went on my first solo overseas trip. It was Thanksgiving, and I took advantage of an extra few days off from work to travel. I booked a trip to London and stayed in a hostel, using it as my base to explore the city. In the mornings I’d have breakfast with a woman from South Africa, whom I met at the hostel, and in the evenings, I read Franny and Zooey at the pub down the street over a beer and cottage pie.

According to surveys of participants, 71 percent of respondents reported lower levels of burnout, and 39 percent reported being less stressed than when they began the test. Companies experienced 65 percent fewer sick and personal days. And the number of resignations dropped by more than half, compared with an earlier six-month period. Despite employees logging fewer work hours, companies’ revenues barely changed during the test period. In fact, they actually increased slightly, by 1.4 percent on average.”

Being mocked is a powerful reinforcer.  It is difficult to be the individual who begins to behave, dress, speak, and act as they believe in their heart to be true to themselves.  This requires risk and the possibility of being ostracized.  We adhere to cultural norms to fit in.