On this episode of the Inspiring Great Leaders Podcast, Craig Johns speaks with Michael McQueen about Mindstuck, how to influence change as a leader and the importance of social human connections.

We also dive deeper into why some people resist change, understanding other people’s perspectives, and finding ways to bring people closer to the middle for productive discussions.

Michael McQueen – Mindstuck

Michael McQueen is a distinguished multi-award winning speaker, change strategist, and accomplished author with 10 bestselling books to his credit, including the recently released Mindstuck. His academic background comprises a Bachelor of Commerce from the University of Wollongong, supplemented by a continuous pursuit of understanding human behavior and future trends through daily research.

Having worked with esteemed clients such as Google, Toyota, and Mastercard, Michael has been instrumental in guiding some of the world’s leading brands through periods of uncertainty, ensuring they remain at the forefront of innovation. With two decades of experience as a professional speaker, Michael has held prestigious positions including President of Professional Speakers Australia. He has been honored as the Australian Keynote Speaker of the Year and inducted into the Professional Speakers Hall of Fame.

Michael McQueen talks about:

• Being captivated by a keynote speaker as an 8 year old
  
• Building his credibility through research and programs with young people
  
• Drawing on new trends and information to keep his content fresh
  
• Building connection with audience before and after a talk, and rehearsing thoroughly
  
• Mindstuck
  
• Why people become stubborn and resistant to change
  
• Becoming trustworthy to influence people to make a change
  
• Building rapport & framing change in a familiar or altruistic way
  
• Telling stories to appeal to emotions
  
• The key to reducing polarisation and tribalism
  
• Increasing proximity between opposing groups so they can understand each other’s perspectives
  
• Evidence and logic alone often don’t work for persuasion
  
• Understanding other people’s perspectives 
  
• Avoiding prejudice
  
• Finding ways to bring people closer to the middle for productive discussions
  
• The revelations and studies in human behavior and relationships that came out from the pandemic
  
• Importance of social human connections
  
• The psychology of stubborness
  

Tweets

“What they found is that when you’re lacking social connections, the amygdala, which is where that fight and flight reflex resides, part of the instinctive mind shrinks and the surface becomes different.” The importance of building and maintaining social connections with Michael Mcqueen on the Inspiring Great Leaders Podcast.

“The first thing is you’ve got to win affinity. You’ve got to be seen as trustworthy. Someone who’s got their best interests in mind. This is what Aristotle talked about as ethos, this notion of being credible and trustworthy in the eyes of other people you’re trying to engage with.” Michale Mcqueen talks about building trust to influence change on the Inspiring Great Leaders Podcast.

“I’m reading 5 to 7 tech and trend journals or newsletters or online resources every day. So I’m pumping out content every day about what’s new, what’s happening. That then feeds into my presentation. So I’ve got this natural cadence of always the new.” Michael Mcqueen talks about staying up to date with trends and keeping content fresh on the Inspiring Great Leaders Podcast.

Resources Mentioned in this show:

Michael McQueen Website: https://michaelmcqueen.net/
Michael McQueen LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/michaelmcqueen1/
Michael McQueen Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/michaelmcqueenauthor
Michael McQueen Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/michaeljmcqueen/
Michael McQueen Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@michaelmcqueen1
Michael McQueen X: https://twitter.com/Michael_McQueen
Craig Johns www.craigjohns.com.au
Craig Johns craig@nrg2perform.com
Craig Johns LinkedIn
Craig Johns Facebook
Inspiring Great Leaders Podcast
NRG2Perform www.nrg2perform.com

BOOK

Mindstuck