210. First Impression to Lasting Impact: Use Status Strategically

Career success takes a status boost, not a power grab.

How do you chart the career course you’ve always imagined? According to Alison Fragale, it’s about gaining influence through status, power, and ultimately, being “a likeable badass.”

As a research psychologist, professor, speaker, and author, Fragale is on a mission to help women take control of their careers. In her book Likeable Badass: How Women Get the Success They Deserve, she argues that most people have it backwards when pursuing career advancement. "We have talked for a long time [about] getting more power," she explains. However, by focusing first on achieving status (how respected we are), power will often come as a natural byproduct. "If you pursue status before, or at least alongside power, everything is going to fall into place," she says. “Status makes power a lot easier to achieve, and it makes power a lot easier to use.”

In this episode of Think Fast, Talk Smart, hosted by executive producer Jenny Luna, Fragale explores the communication strategies of a likeable badass, from building warmth and assertiveness to authentically connecting with colleagues. Whether you're building relationships in a new company or have been leading one for years, Fragale’s insights will help you command respect while communicating with kindness.

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Episode Reference Links:

• Alison Fragale
• Alison’s Book: Likeable Badass
• Jenny Luna
• Ep.12 It's Not What You Say, It’s How You Say It: How To Communicate Power
• Ep.15 The Art of Negotiation: How to Get More of What You Want  

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Chapters:

• (00:00) - Introduction
• (02:43) - Defining Power and Status
• (05:48) - Why Status Comes Before Power
• (06:41) - Communication Techniques to Build Status
• (09:49) - Evaluating Your Habits: Nonverbal and Verbal Cues
• (11:43) - Mentorship in Developing Communication
• (13:35) - Adapting to a New Work Culture
• (19:03) - Representing Difference Without Distance
• (20:11) - Overcoming Bad First Impressions
• (23:27) - The Final Three Question
• (27:12) - Conclusion

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