The Art of Quiet Influence: Timeless Wisdom and Mindfulness for Work and Life

by Jocelyn Davis

Drawing on the enduring wisdom of the Buddha, Confucius, Rumi, Gandhi and others, The Art of Quiet Influence shows anyone, not just bosses, how to use influence, a key mindfulness principle, to get things done at work. Through the classic wisdom of 12 Eastern sages (especially the Buddha), relevant insights from influence research, and anecdotes and advice from 25 contemporary experts, Davis lays out a path for becoming a "mainspring," the unobtrusive yet powerful influencer first introduced in her book The Greats on Leadership.

Organized around three core influence practices: Invite Participation, Share Power, and Aid Progress, readers will learn how to take mindfulness practice "out of the gym and onto the field," while gaining the confidence and practical know-how to be influential in whatever role they occupy.

Genres: Leadership, Nonfiction, Self Help, Psychology, Management, Business, Spirituality

256 pages, Paperback

Published May 7, 2019

Reviews

[ساجد العبدلي · Rating 5 out of 5]

In The Art of Quiet Influence, Jocelyn Davis brings old philosophical wisdom to shed light on the best practices to influence groups of people.

It's not just another business or leadership book. In this interesting book, Jocelyn Davis draws on the wisdom of the old masters -- from Confucius to Rumi to Buddha to Gandhi – to provide timeless advice for dealing with current leadership and business challenges.

[Matt · Rating 2 out of 5]

I truly wish I liked professional books more than I do.

[Joe · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great book on how to lead as an introverted or quiet person and without yelling or being loud. Sometime to be heard you have to lower your voice and raise your words.
Ruin

[Tino · Rating 3 out of 5]

An okay read. It had some valuable insights but the incessant mentions of the company she worked at (Forum) was a little much. It almost felt like an ad or case study of the company. 3 stars.

[Jerry Jones · Rating 3 out of 5]

A read that involved eastern philosophy in improving character. This was an exciting read, but not personally my cup of tea. I enjoy eastern philosophy, but not in the context of improving character.

[Matt Heavner · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lots of interesting leadership and influence ideas. I liked the narrative of leadership insights from various Eastern sages. However, I didn't buy the binary "east vs west" aspect of the book. The book was a mix of "ancient wisdom," personal reflections, and (a bit too much) history of the Forum company. Still, overall, I enjoyed reading and reflecting on the book.

[Blertë · Rating 1 out of 5]

It starts off good, gives you some good advices and then it goes to philosophy, history and fiction of other countries’s books and people, that is absolutely boring and too long. And then it talks about Forum (the place the author worked), and it goes on in this kind of loop all the time until you eventually start to get so bored of it that you think why am I forcing myself to read this?! It would be a lot better if the author didn’t stop and tell stories (whether fictional or history) every few pages, of other (religious, spiritual, philosophical) books to try and explain something she wants to say when she could say it better and shorter in her own words, I am sure. Why do people have to use 100 words to say something that they could’ve said in 10? And why does it have to be based on some philosophy in order to be authentic or true?!
I stopped at 62% because I just can’t read it anymore. I wouldn’t recommend it.

[Rudy Adrian · Rating 4 out of 5]

it was super helpful! I've always been interested in leadership and influence, so I was stoked to read a book that had a more respectful and subtle approach. Davis provides some real-world examples and research that are super practical and easy to put into action. I especially dug the focus on building trust and relationships, which I think are key to being a good leader.

Overall, I think this book can be a very good guide to becoming a better influencer. The book emphasizes emotional intelligence, self-awareness, and ethical behavior, which I think are crucial traits for being a good leader. I loved all the tips and tricks for improving communication and building better relationships, and I think the advice is relevant not just in the workplace, but in all areas of life. I can't wait to use what I've learned in my own personal and professional interactions.

[Laura · Rating 4 out of 5]

Although to start this book was a bit challenging it did turn into a very engaging read with much knowledge to pass on- The Eastern and Western traditions being contrasted and compared was a format which took a bit to register with my brain but once I picked up on the authors intended format for presenting the information it was truly enjoyable. Through this book we see indeed the two have much they could learn from each other.

[Sierra Rogers · Rating 3 out of 5]

Overall, a very different dive into leadership from a corporate perspective. Dry at times, but with a good amount of variety in terms of the philosophy used as the backbone. The idea of "quiet influence" as the most important form of leadership is a nice change of pace from the usual grit and power-chasing mentality I would generally expect from leadership books. A lot of the corporate scenarios are lost on me, but it was still personable and relatable throughout.

[Alex Morgan · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is a fun journey

I learned quite a bit reading this. I especially enjoyed the chapter on objections as well as the chapter on mindfulness. The follow up questions at the end of the book too because it gives you insight into the thinking of the author.

[Imran Ruhul · Rating 3 out of 5]

A good read on leadership based on 12 eastern sages...

[Rozan Kitt]

Insightful book

[Naveen Kumar · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved every chapter. I really liked the way book was presented with a real life experience associated with philosophical texts from east and in the end pitfalls of west.

[Ron · Rating 2 out of 5]

I wanted to like this book because of the title. I loved the Prologue but then found the rest of the book rambling and tedious.

[Cindy · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book while informative, didn't live up to my expectations unfortunately. It seemed like old repackaged stuff to me. I was looking for insight and inspiration and didn't find any.

[Vivek Patil · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is a hidden treasure. Reading it for the second time now!

[Sarai Henderson · Rating 3 out of 5]

I have read a lot of books about leadership and child development and they all really say the same things. Some are interesting and easy to understand, with stories and anecdotes that make the book special, others are bland and far to dry to be read. This book made my eyes burn.

It was sooo dry.

There was a lot of good information inside the pages, but nothing I hadn't heard before.

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