Why do two people say the same thing in a meeting… but only one gets listened to?

Ever noticed this?

Two people give the same recommendation in a meeting.

One gets nods and action.

The other gets silence.

Years ago, a colleague said to me after a client meeting:

“Gerard, they agreed as soon as YOU said it. I told them the same thing yesterday.”

That’s when I realised: influence isn’t just about the idea – it’s about how you communicate it.

Here are 3 shifts that make people listen the first time:

1️⃣ Start with WHY (for them).

Before explaining what you want, tell them why it matters to them.

2️⃣ Summarise before detail.

“Here’s what I recommend. Here’s why. If you’d like the detail, I can walk you through it.”

3️⃣ Problem first, then solution.

“We have a problem with X. The good news is, we can fix it by doing Y.”

Small changes. Big difference in how people respond to you.

DM me “INFLUENCE” for my meeting-influence framework.

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