In a world where attention is the ultimate currency, do you know how to ensure you’re not overlooked?
Scott Adams has often said that attention is half of persuasion. It's self-evident once you hear that--how can you persuade anyone if they don't see or hear what you are saying?
Robert Greene, in his book The 48 Laws of Power, explores this idea in the chapter titled “Court Attention at All Costs.” Greene’s insights are not just about being noticed but about cultivating a presence that commands respect and intrigue. Let’s unpack this idea and explore how you can use it to your advantage on social media, and in personal and professional settings.
The Importance of Attention
Attention is power. Think of how Steve Jobs, known for his dramatic product unveilings, captured global attention. Would Apple have had its tremendous comeback story if Jobs was not able to capture attention? Of course not.
One of my mentors in management consulting was great at this--he would take contrary positions to what clients were saying, in the context of initial conversations where we were trying to sell a larger project to them. At first I wondered, why are you doing that, as sometimes his take wasn't even something I necessarily agreed with. I asked him about this and it suddenly made perfect sense: If we just agree with what they think they should do, why would they listen to us?
Another mentor also showed me the value of getting attention by disagreeing. We had worked at a client together that had an intentionally combative culture--they not only encouraged but required everyone to speak up when they disagreed with anything, and that included consultants like me. Every step of the way on that project, I had to debate all comers. The client would also ask us blunt questions like who on their staff we thought was not performing well--which is not something a consultant would ever comment on--and they required us to answer that!
This mentor of mine later left consulting for a highly paid executive job at a bank, and I chatted with him at a party given to see him off. He told me that the project we were on was how he got that job. He had gone directly from that combative client to this bank to meet with their CIO, and the CIO showed him an agenda for an offsite meeting he had put together and asked his opinion. He responded by tearing the CIO's agenda apart, telling him it was all BS and here was what he really should be doing instead. He told me--before working at this combative client, he NEVER would have done something like that. But the CIO's response was not to get angry, quite the contrary: He said wow, everyone else I showed this too just told me it was great, you're the only one who gave me honest feedback. And that experience later led directly to that CIO offering him a job.
When people forget you, they disregard your ideas, contributions, and presence. To stop being invisible, you need to make lasting impressions, and requires doing unexpected things.
This principle is not just about being loud or flamboyant or even disagreeable; it’s about being memorable. In a world saturated with information and distractions, carving out a distinct identity ensures you remain top of mind.
