The Power of Influence: Leadership in Action

Trust isn’t built in grand moments — it’s built in the small influence behaviors leaders use every day.In this month’s episode of The Power of Influence: Leadership in Action, Paulette J. Sterling breaks down the 11 influence behaviors identified by Yukl & Falbe — and reveals which ones strengthen commitment…and which ones quietly erode it.You’ll hear:• A real Caribbean leadership case study showing two managers, same change —opposite outcomes• The influence behaviors that build trust, psychological safety, and long‑term performance• The behaviors that create resistance, disengagement, and silent pushback• How your team interprets your influence as the organization’s voice• Three practical shifts you can make this month to increase buy‑in and reduce resistanceIf you lead people — this episode will change the way you communicate, motivate, and move your team.Reflection Question:What influence behavior did you use most this week — and what impact did it have?Share your insight on LinkedIn using #InfluenceInAction.Resources:• Join the Legacy Impact Circle at https://www.sterlingbusinessmanagement.com/memberships for deeper tools, bonus episodes, and leadership resources. • Leadership Clarity Intensive (FREE 15-minute session) at https://scheduler.zoom.us/sterling-business-management/free-15-minute-leadership-clarity-intensive• Follow Paulette on LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/in/paulettejsterling5/------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- leadership influence behaviors how to build trust as a leader managerial influence strategies organizational commitment tools leadership communication skills rational persuasion vs pressure psychological safety leadership Caribbean leadership development employee engagement strategies leadership podcast for managers influence without authority trust building leadership habits--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------LeadershipManagementPersonal DevelopmentBusinessOrganizational PsychologyCommunication SkillsWorkplace CultureEmotional IntelligenceCoachingProfessional Growth

In this episode, Paulette J. Sterling breaks down Leader Member Exchange (LMX) — one of the most powerful predictors of performance, trust, and organizational commitment. Through research, real‑world examples, and practical tools, Paulette explains how relationship quality shapes how employees show up, engage, and perform.You’ll learn:What LMX is and why it mattersHow high‑quality vs low‑quality relationships formHow leaders unintentionally create “in‑groups” and “out‑groups”Why attention, clarity, and influence behaviors shape relationship qualityPractical ways to strengthen LMX with every team memberPerfect for leaders who want to build trust, reduce resistance, and create high‑performing teams.Key themes: LMX, leadership influence, trust, workplace relationships, emotional intelligence, organizational commitment, Caribbean leadership.LMX, leadership, influence, trust, emotional intelligence, workplace culture, organizational commitment, Caribbean leadership, team performance, leadership developmentPlease: Share this episode with a leader navigating team dynamics.Follow the show for more research‑backed leadership insights.Join the Legacy Impact Circle for deeper tools andresources at https://www.sterlingbusinessmanagement.com/memberships

In this episode of The Power of Influence: Leadership in Action, Paulette J. Sterling explores the psychology behind organizational commitment —why some employees go above and beyond while others quietly withdraw.Grounded in decades of research and Paulette’s own study on influence behaviors, this episode breaks down:The difference between commitment, compliance, and resistanceThe three components of commitment: affective, continuance, and normativeWhy the manager–subordinate relationship predicts commitmentHow influence behaviors shape motivation and loyaltyPractical ways leaders can strengthen commitment through meaning, trust, and identificationPerfect for leaders navigating change, building culture, or trying to inspire deeper ownership and engagement.Key themes: organizational commitment, leadership influence, motivation, emotional intelligence, workplace culture, Caribbean leadership, Leader–Member Exchange,employee engagement.organizational commitment, leadership, influence, motivation, emotional intelligence, workplace culture, employee engagement, Caribbean leadership, LMX, leadership development, team performancePlease:Share this episode with a leader navigating team motivation.Follow the show for more research‑backed leadership insights.Join the Legacy Impact Circle for deeper tools andresources at https://www.sterlingbusinessmanagement.com/memberships

In this episode of The Power of Influence: Leadership in Action, Paulette J. Sterling breaks down the truth every leader must understand: trust is the real currency of influence. Titles don’t create commitment — trust does.You’ll learn:Why trust matters more than authorityThe three pillars of the Trust Triangle: Competence, Care and ConsistencyHow leaders accidentally break trust without realizing itThe emotional intelligence behaviours that strengthen trust dailyA simple, powerful trust-repair script you can use immediatelyWhether you're leading a team, managing change or building a culture of psychological safety, this episode gives you the tools to influence with clarity, confidence and emotional intelligence.This episode is perfect for:Leaders, managers, executives, HR professionals, emerging leaders, and anyone committed to building stronger relationships and higher‑performing teams.Key themes:Leadership influence, trust in leadership, emotional intelligence, workplace culture, psychological safety, communication skills, Caribbean leadership, modern management.Listen now and learn why your influence grows at the speed of trust. And...Share this episode with a leader who needs to hear it. Join my leadership community at https://www.sterlingbusinessmanagement.com/memberships for monthly tools, insights, and executive‑level resources.Follow the show so you never miss an episode. leadership, influence, emotional intelligence, trust in leadership, workplace culture, psychological safety, communication skills, leadership development, Caribbean leadership, management skills, team performance, organizational behaviour, leadership coaching, employee engagement, modern leadership

Every leader is dancing — whether they realize it or not.In this episode of The Power of Influence: Leadership in Action, we explore the manager–subordinate dance — the daily interactions between leaders and team members that quietly determine whether people lean in with commitment or step back into self‑protection.Through two contrasting workplace stories, host Paulette J. Sterling reveals how small leadership behaviours shape trust, engagement, and performance. You’ll hear how one manager creates psychological safety and ownership, while another creates fear, distance, and disengagement — all through everyday interactions.In this episode, you’ll learn:Why the quality of the manager–team relationship predicts performance, trust, and retentionHow small behaviours — tone, clarity, listening, feedback — shape commitmentThe difference between high‑quality and low‑quality leader–member relationshipsWhy people “do enough to stay out of trouble” when trust is lowHow leaders can shift from surveillance to partnershipPractical steps to strengthen trust and influence this weekWhether you lead a team, a department, or an entire organization, this episode will help you: Build stronger, more respectful relationshipsCommunicate with clarity and fairnessCreate psychological safetyReduce resistance and increase ownershipLead with intention in everyday moments🎧 Listen now to understand how your daily leadership behaviours shape commitment — and how to adjust your “steps” in the dance.👉 Subscribe for new episodes every month👉 Join the Leadership Accelerator or Legacy Impact Circle for deeper tools👉 Follow Paulette on LinkedIn and Facebook for weekly leadership insights

Welcome to The Power of Influence: Leadership in Action — a podcast for leaders who want to inspire trust, strengthen commitment, and lead with intention in a changing world.This Welcome Episode sets the foundation for Season 1: Foundations of Influence.In this short introduction, host Paulette Sterling shares:Why influence -not authority- is the true currency of leadershipWhy organizational commitment still matters in 2026What leaders can expect from this podcastHow each episode blends research, real stories and practical toolsHow to use this podcast as your monthly leadership resetWhether you lead a team, a department, a business, or a community, this podcast will help you:Build stronger relationshipsCommunicate with clarityStrengthen trustLead with soul, strategy and legacySeason 1 drops on January 5 with two full episodes: Why Commitment Still MattersThe Manager - Subordinate DanceSubscribe now and begin your 2026 leadership journey with intention.