Lesson 4: The Power of Influential Communication

How timing, tone, and clarity shape destinies

In any organization, the ability to communicate with clarity and conviction without being aggressive is a key leadership strength. Influential communication is the art of expressing thoughts confidently and assertively, without overpowering others. It’s not about dominating the conversation, but rather about knowing how, when, and what to communicate, with purpose.

Influential communication isn’t manipulation; it’s a well-crafted balance of clarity, timing, and emotional prompting that moves people toward action.

A situation in the Ramayana highlights this perfectly.

Manthara communicated to Kaikeyi that this was the right time to remind King Dasaratha about the two boons he had once promised her.

She advised Kaikeyi to pretend displeasure over the announcement of Sree Rama’s Pattabhisheka and to persuade Dasaratha to instead make Bharatha the king and send Sree Rama into exile for 14 years.

This influence had a larger purpose only if this decision unfolded, the Rama–Ravana Yudha, the destruction of evil by good, would take place.

Manthara’s influence, though controversial, was not accidental. Her words were timely, her intentions calculated, and her communication strategically tailored to push Kaikeyi toward a pivotal decision. The ripple effects of that moment changed the destiny of Ayodhya and the course of the epic itself.

The who, what, when, and why of communication are more powerful than the message itself that is communicated