This is your practical, step-by-step guide to selling ideas, building influence, and growing opportunities in the most effective manner possible. What causes decision-makers to really listen to what you have to say? It can be very frustrating when the gatekeepers to your personal and professional success seem disinterested in your thoughts and suggestions. You canÕt assume that good ideas will yield positive results, nor that a strong desire will enable you to surmount all obstacles and objections. You have to understand the decision-making processÑthe psychology behind why people say ÒyesÓ to some propositions and not othersÑand use this information to motivate the right people to take action. In this book, you will learn how to earn the right to be heard, as well as how to use your newfound influence to get more of what you want. Communication, persuasion, and negotiation do not have to be mysterious processesÑall you have to do is package your ideas in a way that ensures key players will not only respond favorably to your advice, but seek it out in the future. Earning the Right to Be Heard offers the time-tested information, tools, and techniques for mastering the art of building influence, including how to: ácaptivate your audience and set the stage for communication success ádemonstrate your credibility and competence áanticipate, and prepare compelling responses to, the questions all decision-makers must have answered áinspire action by convincing others to adopt your perspective ámaximize your impact through follow-up and results analysisLet Earning the Right to Be Heard help you discover the sweet spot of strategic communication so that you can gain respect and authority, attract more professional opportunities, and become a decision-maker yourself.