Persuasion skills are an investment

Dorie stands in a sunlit office with modern furniture and potted plants. Dorie has short, brown hair, a lavender dress shirt, and a navy blazer and speaks directly to us. Today's workplace is a lot more collaborative and a lot less hierarchical than in the past. Do it because I told you so doesn't really fly anymore. And that's a good thing. But it also means that if you want to get things accomplished and make progress on the metrics that really matter, you have to amp up your persuasion skills. In many cases, you can't simply force someone to do your bidding. You have to persuade them that it's in their own best interest to do so. I'm Dorie Clark. Text appears below the instructor, "Dorie Clark, Professor and Author." I teach for Duke University's Fuqua School of Business, and I'm the author of "Reinventing You and Stand Out." The beige screen, an illustration depicts a black woman presenting to a boardroom. Two white women and a dark skinned man watch from the table. Beside them, a title reads, "Gain Credibility." A list reads, Number 1, "Build your credentials." Below is another point, "Join a board." Persuasion is about making sure your best ideas get a fair hearing. Beside another boardroom illustration, Point 2 reads, "Determine who your boss needs to persuade." You owe it to yourself, your company, and the projects you care about. An illustration depicts a white man chatting with a black man and woman. Title, "Become a recognized expert." To make sure you're doing everything possible -- Beside an illustration of Benjamin Franklin, the title reads, "Disarm Naysayers." -- within the bounds of ethics and good sense to help them succeed. We return to the instructor. So let's start persuading.