“The further you ride up the management hierarchy, the more it becomes about people… When MBA graduates who came back later were asked what they wished they had been taught, one said, ‘I wish they’d taught me how to talk to truck drivers.’” – Philip Delves Broughton, author of Ahead of the Curve: Two Years at Harvard Business School. When you think about that really isn’t that surprising, everything you want in life really does boil down to your interaction with other people. You could be a technology genius or musical virtuoso, but if nobody can stand to be around you, you’re going to be greatly hindered.
Organization Management Journal states that the #1 reason business leaders fail is “Lack of Interpersonal Skills.”
Eric Rogell knows a thing or two about influencing people. The former magazine creative director is the author of one of the most popular dating books for men “The Art of War for Dating” and w regularly contributes to several leading men’s lifestyle publications. What Rogell draws upon for his methods of influencing people aren’t con tricks or rehearsed routines, but methods steeped in neuroscience, sociology, psychology, linguistics and physiology. Basing his dating and business tactics on Casanova, the 18th century adventurer and ladies man in all practicalities makes perfect sense. Casanova lived by the philosophy “Be the flame, not the moth.” Isn’t this exactly what all businesses aim to do, attract consumers?
Rogell has taken his knowledge on dating and developed it for the business world with “Casanova Code”, laying out seven key chapters for business success or being a “casanova of the business world.” They are: Attraction, Framing, You are the Prize, Don’t Step in Their Sh*t Test, Profiting from Social Proof, Panhandler Syndrome and No One Ever Bored Somebody into Buying Something.
Looking at the first step, Rogell points out that attraction isn’t a choice in sexuality nor in business. He draws upon a Jonah Berger’s book “Contagious” that examines a Harvard study where students were asked which salary they’d rather have, $50,000 a year or $100,000. If the students choose $50,000 all of their coworkers make $25,000, if they choose $100,000 all of their coworkers get a bump up to $200,000. The majority of the students opted for the lower salary. Doing better than their coworkers was more important, even if it meant making less money overall.
Rogell sums this up as “lowering your price is a good idea, only if your goal is to make less money.” Attractive pricing seems like a necessity, but according to a study by HR Chally, it came in last among factors influencing a sale. Lower the price too much and people perceive it as cheap and “bargain basement.” The key to creating that attraction of your client to your product or service isn’t price, it’s simply doing the research to find out exactly what they need — even if its something their totally unaware of.
Using Apple as an example (who also employ his secrets 3 and 7) Rogell points out that not only are they experts at determining what their audience needs, but they create the “must-have” mystique that has gadget aficionados lining up around the block. They have discovered what is truly attractive to their target. Apple is the flame, not the moth.
Whether you’re looking to land the new job interview, acquire a corner office or become the next Microsoft, Rogell’s bedroom to boardroom business methods are worth investigating, challenging and employing. Learn more about “Casanova Code” here.