iA HUMAN+ Partner and Global Leadership Coach, Dr. John Ullmen Checks In with TWR. on Edible Baseballs In William Kennedy’s “Ironweed,” there’s a corrupt umpire in a local baseball game. He clearly favors one team, because he bet on them. It’s getting dark, but the ump won’t stop the game because his team is losing. The catcher hatches a plan with the pitcher, who throws, and the ump calls it a ball. “That was a strike!” says the catcher. “If that pitch was a ball, I’ll eat it!” “Start eating,” says the ump. The catcher takes the ball out of his mitt, and chomps a big bite out of it. It was a yellow apple he gave the pitcher to throw, and it was too dark for the ump to notice. In the uproar, they won the game, the crooked ump was fired, and the catcher got a snack. Need a way to influence that isn’t combative or confrontational, and elevates the mood? Tell a short fun story that makes your point. Always be on the lookout for colorful anecdotes and entertaining examples that will come in handy when you need to lighten emotions, avoid collisions, or get unstuck from logic-based stalemates. Use one, or just make one up:) Sometimes to influence, it’s best to go off track, to get back on track. Sometimes the most persuasive move is a laugh. That’s the takeaway: Eat more baseballs.