Bruce Mehlman on Sharing Insights Freely - Chief Influencer - Episode # 008

Bruce Mehlman is the Founding Partner of Mehlman Consulting and a renowned lobbyist. Bruce shares quarterly infographic analyses for free which are packed with high-level insights that aren’t found anywhere else. Bruce explains why you should share your discoveries publicly, the importance of using brevity in your content, and why elevating others around you is so important!
Takeaways: When you discover a new insight, it’s better to share it freely with others rather than hide it behind a paywall. As you become a source of knowledge, your influence in your niche will expand. Even if your competitors draw from your research, it only shows the value of your work. For example, when discussing the use of his research by a competitor, Bruce shared that recipients of that information will want to work with him more because he is the source of the insights they received. Brevity goes a long way. Making a message longer does not make it easier to understand. If three paragraphs get the message across, don’t write five pages. Use visuals to illustrate the ideas that are difficult to verbalize. Imagery can make your overall message more impactful Positivity and Feedback Drive Results. While negativity may have a short-term impact, a positive approach is more effective for long-term influence. Providing constructive feedback and celebrating the achievements of your team members cultivate a culture of growth and motivation, resulting in greater overall success. Create content that you would want to read and avoid perpetuating harmful narratives. When posting on social media, Bruce suggests trying to “un-spin” the conversation as much as possible and get to the root of the story or issue. Elevate those around you that enable your success. Recognizing the members of your team for the work they do provides validation for them, a  short-term dopamine boost for you, and strengthens the long-term relationship between you and your team. 
Quote of the Show:“Sharing the work more widely makes it more valuable” - Bruce Mehlman
Links: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bruce-mehlman-51239136/  Twitter: https://twitter.com/bpmehlman
Shout Outs: John Chambers - Founder of JC2 Ventures and former CEO of Cisco Jim Collins - Business researcher and Author of Good to Great