Book 1 | December 2025 | Compelling People – The Hidden Qualities That Make Us Influential | Authors John Neffinger and Matthew Kohut
Compelling People is an interesting read. It makes the reader believe they can understand what makes people influential. More importantly, it shows how to maximize their influence on others. Many people have claimed that this book oversimplifies how influence works in the real world. However, not everyone is trying to deep dive into this subject. Most people are just trying to get by and do better with the hand they’ve been dealt. So while this is not the smartest book on the subject, its a good place for anyone to start (and even end) their tryst with influence and how it can be maximised.
The assertion is simple – strength (respect) and warmth (affection) determine one’s influence. When people project strength, they command respect. When people project warmth, we like and support them. The most influential people have a good balance of strength and warmth in their personality – they can get things done and at the same time are personable. The book goes on to explain how different factors can influence these two core personality traits and how one can use them to their advantage. Balancing warmth and strength cultivates trust, respect, and admiration (a rare combination), creating a powerful foundation for sustainable influence.
This is a simple guide to improve your appeal and effectiveness in life.
Mihir Narvilkar 