Videos
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Alison Fragale - Workforce Gender Gap - Squawk Box CNBC - 10/7/24 -
Likeable Badass: The Science of Winning the Status Game
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Power, Politics, and Asking for What you Want
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Alison Fragale - Assoc. Prof. of Organizational Behavior, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill
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How Women Can Gain Status and Advance in the Workplace -
How to be well-liked at work, according to science
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WGN Chicago Interview with Alison Fragale
Learn More About Alison Fragale
In today’s highly competitive workforce, how can leaders set themselves apart and increase their odds of becoming highly successful? How do managers maximize their contributions to their organizations while also getting others to value and respect them for their great work?
“Leaders often confuse being respected with being popular,” explains Alison Fragale, Ph.D. (fruh-GAYL), a leading organizational psychologist, expert on status and power, and professor at the University of North Carolina Chapel Hill. “People respecting you comes from two places: from them seeing you as a capable person and as someone who cares about people other than themselves. That’s where it’s different than a popularity contest.”
For more than 20 years, Fragale has researched and written about power – the control over resources – and status, which refers to the respect, admiration, and high regard an individual receives from others. Translating the behavioral science behind how people improve their standing in workplace settings, she has found that when we are respected and valued by audiences that matter to us most, it’s a recipe for greater influence and a more satisfying life, both physically and mentally. Her practical frameworks offer leaders from the C-suite to the front lines tools that enable personal development, career advancement and powerful networking.
A former management consultant with decades of executive education experience, Fragale is skilled at breaking down elements of behavioral science in ways that make sense to everyday people, so they can apply the psychology of power to their daily interactions. Her bestselling book, “Likeable Badass: How Women Get the Success They Deserve” (Doubleday, September 2024), teaches how to apply these frameworks so women can thread the needle of kindness and competence in the workplace, earn credit for their accomplishments, and negotiate better for themselves.
In her high energy, interactive talks and workshops that are equally casual, entertaining and based in research-backed scientific principles, Fragale delivers personal, practical and rigorous strategies for navigating complex office politics without losing the goodwill of one’s peers.
“Fundamentally, what I help people do is get inside the head of their audience to get an outcome that they want, whether that is being respected, being paid or selling something,” explains Fragale. “Influence is getting other people to do what you want them to do or believe what you want them to believe. I offer strategies for influencing both strategically and authentically.”
Authentic Leadership: A Playbook for Gaining Status and Power
Whether you’re focused on influencing colleagues, customers or family members, it is possible to control the way people see you and own your narrative. Fragale’s playbook – understand the game, master the plays, coach others, and above all else, practice – is the gateway to getting the status and power you deserve.
“Authenticity and strategy need to coexist. If you are doing anything solely as a strategy to get somebody else to like you, it’s going to come across poorly to them …as false flattery,” notes Fragale. “Start with what feels authentic to you. I always ask people, if you care about others, how do you like to show it? If it comes from a spirit of authenticity, it’s going to be perceived that way both by the audience as well as other people who are observing it.”
With strategies that enable leaders to create meaningful connections, Fragale’s frameworks help foster even stronger relationships with teams and customers alike.
Likeable Badass: How to Build Status to Get What You Want
In workplace settings, women often toe the line between being assertive and warm, cautious of not being too much of either, resulting in a feeling that they can’t be both at the same time. To build status and get what you want, Fragale explains in a standout interview on the Harvard Business Review podcast Women at Work, you have to be both.
“Likeable badasses are women who have found effective, authentic strategies to shape how customers see them,” Fragale points out. “Using your unique skills to help others is the most effective way to gain status. You will appear helpful and knowledgeable. By doing what you love in service to others, you will be authentic and strategic.”
Trained to see the world through a status lens, Fragale’s memorable lessons focused on building resilience, confidence and togetherness lift the curtain on how “likeability” works and practical tools to boost it. Ultimately, she leaves audiences with tips, tricks and strategies for mastering the art of negotiation, embracing self-promotion, and making strides toward reducing the wage gap.
“No two people are likeable and badass in the exact same ways,” says Fragale. “Keep experimenting until you find ways to manage your status that you truly love. When you do, you’ll see that showing up as a likeable badass is doable, enjoyable and the key to winning the status game.”
Alison Fragale is an organizational psychologist, professor at the University of North Carolina Kenan-Flagler Business School, and bestselling author of “Likeable Badass.”
Her academic research on status, power, negotiation and influence have been published in her field’s top academic journals as well as national media outlets, including The Wall Street Journal and The New York Times. She is a sought-after keynote speaker who uses behavioral science to help individuals, especially women, excel. Prior to her academic career, Alison worked as a consultant for McKinsey and Company, Inc.
She holds a B.A. in Mathematics and Economics from Dartmouth College and a Ph.D. in Organizational Behavior from the Stanford University Graduate School of Business.
Alison Fragale is available to advise your organization via virtual and in-person consulting meetings, interactive workshops and customized keynotes through the exclusive representation of Stern Speakers & Advisors, a division of Stern Strategy Group®.
The Psychology of Power: Why You’ve Had Bad Leaders and How You Can Be a Great One
As the famous saying goes, “power corrupts, and absolute power corrupts absolutely.” We know what he means. Gather around the water cooler and everyone has a Bosszilla story to share. As Alison Fragale, Ph.D., leading organizational psychologist and expert on status and power, explains, although we may chalk up our managerial misfortune to our leader’s poor disposition or training and vow that we would never submit others to the same mistreatment, evidence from psychology suggests that this is hubris. The experience of being “in charge” changes how individuals think, feel and act, often for the worse. Combining research-backed science with rich storytelling, Fragale explains how power affects all of us and provides tips for how leaders can lead better than they were once led, as well as how organizations can create cultures that foster excellent leadership.
Leading From Where You Are: Building Status, Power, and Influence
How can individuals be strong, confident advocates for their own careers and their own ideas? Status – how respected we are by others – is critical for both life satisfaction and career success, says Alison Fragale, Ph.D., leading organizational psychologist and expert on status and power. In this engaging talk, Fragale explains how status is won (and lost) as well as authentic, practical strategies we can use to build our status – including creating our army of “other-promoters,” self-promoting effectively and authentically, and saying yes and no strategically. Participants will leave the session more confident, inspired and purposeful than when they entered, armed with actionable advice for delivering great performance to their organization while simultaneously managing one’s own path.
Likeable Badass: How Women Can Win the Status Game
Why do women struggle to be seen as both competent and likeable, get less credit than men for the same accomplishments, and remain underpaid and underrepresented? Because most people don’t understand status, they fail to manage theirs effectively, explains Alison Fragale, Ph.D., organizational psychologist, UNC Chapel Hill professor and expert on status, power and negotiation. In this revealing presentation, Fragale draws from her bestselling book “Likeable Badass” to unpack the science of status and demonstrate that it is critical for both life satisfaction and career success. Reframing women’s age-old struggles through a new lens, Fragale shows why, on average, women have less status than men, how it holds them back from achieving the power they deserve and most importantly, what they can do about it. Speaking from both the head and the heart in a customized presentation, she provides audiences with easy, proven strategies to build status, correct the assumptions women make about advocating for themselves, influence productively without being labeled “aggressive” or “self-promoting,” and negotiation tactics that are immediately applicable. With these new tactics, audiences will leave inspired and empowered to win the status game.
Building a Powerhouse Network: How to Create, Sustain and Leverage Relationships
According to organizational psychologist Alison Fragale, Ph.D., success depends a lot on who you know. In this engaging presentation, she shows that when you have a trusted relationship with someone who can offer the advice, information or approval you need, everything is easier. When you lack these relationships, Fragale explains, you struggle. She outlines why strategic relationship-building is particularly important for women but also more challenging because they often look different than others in the room, are busy and, for many, the idea of “networking” is unappealing. But she points out, building strong relationships does not need to be time-consuming or unpleasant. Sharing science and strategies, Fragale explains how to cultivate desirable professional relationships in ways that are both authentic and efficient. Participants will learn how to develop a network strategy that turns strangers into acquaintances and acquaintances into allies; how to stay top of mind in existing relationships by making “small deposits” and developing daily network habits; and how and when to use social media like LinkedIn to deepen professional relationships.
The Key to Influence: Powerful Principles for Getting Buy-In
No matter our workplace seniority or the position we hold, “because I said so” is never a constructive way to influence others, regardless of whether a leader has the authority to do so. Instead, notes Alison Fragale, Ph.D., getting buy-in and building positive relationships comes from convincing others that they want to agree with us. The key to influence is not having the best idea or making a convincing speech, but rather by undertaking a systematic process to understand our audience and give them what they want. In this highly interactive presentation, which can also be delivered as a workshop, Fragale reveals a six-step process that participants can employ to both gain greater influence and build stronger relationships. Attendees will leave this thought-provoking talk armed with highly relevant strategies for exercising influence while bolstering understanding and cooperation.
Alison Fragale, Ph.D., is an expert on status, power and negotiation who enjoys coaching attendees in 1-1 “office hours” sessions on site during in-person and virtual events. Ask us about these specialized sessions when speaking with a Stern Speakers & Advisors agent.
Alison Fragale, Ph.D., is an organizational psychologist, UNC Chapel Hill professor and expert on status, power and negotiation. While her engaging keynotes offer audiences new frameworks for translating status and power into influence, her highly interactive workshops take the lessons a step further by enabling participants to roleplay these newly learned behaviors with peers.
In three-hour or full day sessions, participants experience thought-provoking breakout discussions and ample time to practice Fragale’s powerful principles. Through visualization exercises, she encourages participants explore near-future cases where attempts at influence can be applied in their own organization. Attendees will leave these insightful workshops having reasoned through their own real-world scenarios, now armed with highly relevant strategies for exercising influence while bolstering understanding and cooperation.
Customized workshops can be centered around the following topics, including, but not limited to:
- The Key to Influence: Powerful Principles for Getting Buy-In
- Building a Powerhouse Network: How to Create, Sustain and Leverage Relationships
- Likeable Badass 101: Success for Women’s Groups
- Leading From Where You Are: Building Status, Power, and Influence
- The Psychology of Power: Why You’ve Had Bad Leaders and How You Can Be a Great One
For full session descriptions, click on the Speech Topics tab.
"I first met Alison when I took her Negotiations class in business school, and was very impressed with her ability to deliver content that is based on science with many advices and actionable items that you can execute in your work and personal life. Years later, I was very excited to have Alison as a guest speaker at our Women’s Network, and she did not disappoint! She delivered an amazing presentation that addressed strategies and tactics to help women overcome challenges in negotiation. During a time when we are being challenged to adapt our ways of working in virtual environments, Alison keeps her audience highly engaged with great sense humor and deep knowledge of influence, negotiation and leadership topics."
"We started partnering with Alison in 2018 on a variety of trainings and engaged her expertise with the top leaders in our business. We have been so impressed with her ability to quickly understand the complexity of our business and adapt the content and format to our needs. In all of our engagements, Alison’s advice is high-impact, tactical, and universally valued. At our global Sixth Street Partners firm Offsite in 2019, Alison spoke to our Women’s Network on Power, Advocacy, and Influence, tailoring content to a group of 50+ women across functions, levels, and years of experience. She also conducted one-on-one and small group office hours with members of the Women’s Network specifically designed to address their professional development goals. The Women’s Network found her teaching extremely relatable and impactful — she engages audiences with ease and makes a lasting impression."
"Alison presented on the use and abuse of power at our Best Practices Forum for Ethics and Compliance practitioners. Her comments were insightful and full of practical applications and her warmth and sense of humor deeply connected with our group. In fact, Alison’s presentation was rated as one of the best of the forum!"
"Alison is one of the most impactful speakers I have ever seen and worked with. She presents in such a genuine and unassuming way that endears her to the audience, and then she delivers an impact through storytelling and practical tools that anyone can start using immediately. Her first event with us was so well-received that we invited her back for a second event with our clients. And, I’ve been able to personally benefit from her advice. After hearing her talk about the art of negotiation, I used some of the techniques to acquire free gym passes on a business trip. She is truly changing the world, one free gym pass at a time. I can’t endorse Alison enough and I would jump at the chance to see her speak at every opportunity."
"Alison was a perfect fit for our training conference for L&D professionals. She was flexible leading up to the event, adjusting her talk on negotiation to fit our audience. Alison was definitely a favorite among our attendees. She is a very dynamic presenter, engaging, incorporated humor and had excellent stage presence. Thanks for delivering a memorable and practical keynote!"
"Alison Fragale is a superb public speaker by any measure. I have had the privilege and pleasure to listen to over 50 of her lectures to audiences of a couple dozen or hundreds of attendees. As a mentor to those audiences, I often follow her presentations with small group discussions of her topics which are related to the art and science of negotiation and the consequences of power. Thus, I can calibrate how well her audience absorbed her lecture, which in every case has been outstanding. She is a master of her lecture subjects, and blends well researched facts, her opinions and humor to keep her audience engaged throughout her lecture. Alison is one of the very best speakers I know, and I’m confident she will meet the standards of any requirement she faces."
Praise for "Likeable Badass"
"Alison Fragale is doing something different . . . Fragale’s book is for anyone who wants to know the secrets of getting ahead — or just going through life at your own pace — without being a self-promoter or a hard-ass: someone who no one respects or likes. She comes across as a thoroughly likeable badass herself — this is a genuinely original and useful book."
"Business professor, coach, and adviser Fragale hits the mark. . . . By listening and learning, Fragale convinces us, we can achieve conscious excellence"
“The ultimate guide for women to achieve their goals. Drawing on her brilliant research and extensive experience, Alison Fragale reveals how to overcome the tradeoff between likeability and competence. But it’s not just for women—it’s a must-read for anyone who wants to be a better colleague, mentor, parent, or partner to half the population.”
"A must-read for every woman seeking to thrive. With clarity and wit, Fragale provides incisive insights and incredibly practical advice that will help women tackle the challenges they face. Filled with 'a-ha' moments, 'Likeable Badass' equips women with tools to navigate biases and emerge empowered, at any stage of life."
“Before I had even finished reading 'Likeable Badass,' I had already put my learnings to work three times. Talk about an ROI! Entertaining, actionable, and eye-opening. One of the most personally transformative behavioral science books I have ever read."
"In 'Likeable Badass,' Alison Fragale dives deep into the science behind gender bias and stereotypes — and how we can challenge them. With warmth, humor, and powerful personal stories, she provides women with actionable advice for achieving greater success in the workplace."
"In her deeply-researched and business-savvy book, Fragale shatters the conventional wisdom about power, status, and the path to professional success. Her strategies for gaining advocates are brilliant — and her blueprint for strategic self-promotion will have you rereading this invaluable guide over and over.”
“Essential reading for every woman who aspires to make a difference. 'Likeable Badass' shows us how to cultivate our unique capacity and power to drive the change we want to see in the world.”
"Insightful and practical! Alison Fragale provides an important and urgently-needed look at how women are denied status and power in the workplace, and the evidence-based strategies that can help change this reality."
"Too many women feel trapped in the competence-likeability catch-22. 'Likeable Badass' will help you break free of that nonsense, do the best work of your life, and build the best relationships of your career."
"Such an important book! By focusing on status and respect, Fragale changes women’s perception of power. Backed up by years of scientific research, she shows how to play to our strengths to get what we so deserve."
"Alison Fragale hits it out of the park with this deeply practical, science-backed read, full of easy-to-implement strategies to increase your status, power, and influence. I loved this book!"
