The One Thing Leaders Get Wrong About Influence with Alyce O'Brien

What does it really mean to influence people in business? In this episode of the Find Your Influence Podcast, Alyce O'Brien, founder and managing director of Level Up, shares insights from more than a decade working across recruitment, HR strategy, and organizational culture. Alyce explains why trust and clear communication sit at the core of real influence.

Drawing from her experience working with global firms and growing businesses, she discusses how leaders can build stronger teams, create psychological safety in the workplace, and rethink how they approach hiring. Alyce also talks about the shift in employee expectations after COVID, highlighting why flexibility, purpose, and supportive leadership now matter more than ever.

Listeners will gain practical insights into leadership influence, recruitment psychology, and how businesses can build stronger cultures by focusing on people, not just positions.

Summary:

Alyce O'Brien shares her journey from working in professional services with global firms to founding Level Up, a talent and HR advisory business that helps companies align people, culture, and strategy. Influenced by strong mentors early in her career, Alyce developed a leadership philosophy built around trust, empathy, and clear communication.

The conversation explores how modern workplaces are evolving and why employees now prioritize flexibility, purpose, and supportive leadership over salary alone. Alyce also explains the psychology behind recruitment, emphasizing the importance of understanding both what candidates say and what they leave unsaid.

She highlights the risks of hiring only people who resemble existing leaders and argues that diversity in thinking strengthens teams. Through her experience advising companies at different growth stages, Alyce demonstrates how strong leadership, thoughtful hiring, and consistent communication create sustainable business success.

5 Takeaways:

• Trust and clear communication are the foundation of influence in leadership.
• Hiring the same type of person repeatedly can limit growth and diversity in a team.
• Modern employees value flexibility, purpose, and work-life balance more than ever.
• Recruitment success depends on understanding people beyond what is written on a résumé.
• Strong leadership focuses on developing people, not simply filling positions.

5 Best Quotes:

• Influence begins when you build trust and communicate clearly.
• When communication breaks down, influence disappears quickly.
• Businesses often try to replace like-for-like, but growth requires new thinking.
• Recruitment is not about filling a seat. It is about unlocking someone’s potential.
• The best leaders invest in people and help them grow.

Timestamps:

0:00:00 Introduction and What Influence Means

0:01:54 Alyce O'Brien  Background and Career Journey

0:06:06 Why Level Up Was Founded

0:09:35 Changing Employee Expectations After COVID

0:12:54 Defining Influence Through Trust and Communication

0:13:38 Leadership Influences and Mentors

0:18:56 The Psychology of Recruitment

0:23:48 How Leaders Should Evaluate Candidates

0:25:02 Using Influence to Challenge Hiring Decisions

0:29:20 Trust, Credibility, and Long-Term Leadership Impact

 

Conclusion:

Alyce O'Brien's perspective on influence shows that strong leadership starts with trust, honesty, and genuine care for people. Her experience across recruitment and HR strategy reveals how culture, communication, and thoughtful hiring decisions shape the long-term success of organizations.

As workplaces continue to evolve, leaders who listen carefully, challenge assumptions, and invest in their teams will stand out. Alyce's insights remind us that influence is not about authority. It is about building relationships, understanding people, and creating environments where individuals and businesses can grow together.