Leadership is Influence, Korey Staley - Business Brew

Leadership is influence. Our guest is Korey Staley and he'll share The Behavioral Change Stairway Model, originally used in crisis negotiation. The stairway model gives leaders a framework for moving people from resistance to action. The steps are simple but powerful: active listening, empathy, rapport, influence, and behavioral change. Too often, leaders try to jump straight to influence. They want buy-in, compliance, or action before they have earned trust. That is where things break down. This model reminds us that people do not follow because we talk louder and hold a title. They follow when they feel heard, understood, and respected. Once that foundation is built, influence becomes possible. From there, leaders can guide behavior, shape decisions, and move people toward a shared goal. Korey Staley serves as Vice President at The Center for Personal Protection and Safety (CPPS) https://www.cpps.com/, where he helps organizations prepare for real-world threats before they become crises. His work focuses on practical, pressure-tested approaches to threat mitigation, de-escalation, active assailant response, and high-risk travel preparedness. Korey brings twenty-two years of U.S. Army experience and four years supporting the Department of Defense, with global operational experience, combat leadership, and extensive military training. As an Infantry First Sergeant, he led soldiers in combat and focused on building resilient, mission-ready teams. He has also trained Department of Defense personnel in captivity survival, including prisoner of war, foreign government detention, and hostage situations. Across every role, his mission has remained consistent: prepare people for the unexpected and help them operate effectively when the stakes are high.