Episode 31: Influence doesn't happen by accident

<p>Dr. Glenn Wallis and Nejmi Alexander break down why relationship building is often abandoned as “not enough time” or “not my style,” and why that thinking quietly limits leadership impact. They unpack practical ways to make it manageable, from stakeholder mapping to trust audits, so you can stop trying to “boil the ocean” and focus on the few relationships that really matter.</p><p>Glenn and Nejmi also explore the tension between transactional networking and genuine value exchange, including why gratitude, mutual benefit, and other-orientation matter so much in sustaining trust over time. They dig into the difference between a relationship that has simply atrophied and one that has suffered a real rupture, plus what leaders can do to start rebuilding.</p><p>The episode also makes the case for being more intentional about how relationships are maintained across hybrid and remote work, where connection can easily become purely operational. If you’re leading a team, building cross-functional influence, or trying to turn weak ties into real support, this episode gives you a clear framework for doing it better.</p><p>Essential listening if you want to strengthen your leadership influence without feeling fake, needy, or overwhelmed. The tools are simple, practical, and immediately usable - and they may change how you think about the relationships that shape your career.</p><p><br></p><p><strong>Follow Glenn</strong>:</p><ul><li><a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/gpwallis/">⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Glenn LinkedIn ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠</a></li></ul><ul><li><a href="http://www.exigence.co">⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Exigence Website⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠</a></li></ul><p><br></p><p><strong>Follow Nejmi:</strong></p><ul><li><a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/careeryse/">⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Nejmi LinkedIn⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠</a></li></ul><p><br></p><p>We would love to hear how these conversations have had an impact on you, so please do get in touch with us.</p>