The most effective leaders all act in similar ways which drive impactful results. These actions make up the L.E.A.D. framework:

• Look + Leap: Generate a compelling long-term vision of how you want the world to look in t4he future + jump into the unknown, making it safe for others to do the same.

• Excite + Empower: Connect everyone’s work to that grander vision, adding purpose to every day + provide the support which makes success inevitable.

• Align + Activate: Get colleagues on the same page about what needs to be done + motivate your partners to actively move those ideas forward.

• Decide + Deputize: Kill ambiguity by clearly communicating your decisions and thought processes + share that responsibility with trusted members of your team.

There’s a deceptively simple three-step approach to crafting an influential pitch. Whether you’re talking to an executive, a peer, or even your partner at home, these steps help you frame your ideas in a way that connects, resonates, and leads to action. It turns out pitching a vacation in Greece isn’t that dissimilar to convincing your boss to put you up for a promotion.

I’ve created an acronym for my simple three step process to mastering influence. M.A.P. which stands for MANIFEST, ASSESS, PROMOTE. Check out what to do in each phase.