327. The Secret to Building Credibility and Referrals Like a Badass with Alison Fragale

For Real: Life, Leadership, & Unlearning

This episode is for anyone who has ever hesitated to talk about their accomplishments because they don't want to come across as "too much."

Today we welcome Alison Fragale, organizational psychologist, professor, and author of Likable Badass: How Women Get the Success They Deserve, to challenge and unlearn the outdated beliefs that keep us quiet, small, and overworked.

Alison uses behavioral science and practical strategies to show you how to be both authentic AND strategic. These two concepts are not mutually exclusive - they're actually powerful allies in your career.

In this episode, you'll learn about:

• The core formula for introducing your business that highlights your capabilities and proves you care (solving a problem).
• Why "hiding your successes" to appear humble actually kills connection and makes people question your relationship with them.
• How to use experimentation to practice assertiveness without being terrified (and the danger of socialized "good girl" beliefs).
• The skill of making people curious about you and the powerful difference between a monologue and a polite discourse.
• Why reciprocity rules relationships and how to use it to get people to naturally talk you up.
• Alison's framework for rewriting your story when you're in a "messy middle" or career transition.
• Why other promoters can brag on you in ways you can't brag on yourself, and how to motivate them to pick up the microphone.
• The simple, two-minute investments you can make daily to build your network (like providing easy, valuable help).
• The vital message: Authentic and strategic are not opposites.

Episode Timestamps:

• 00:02:00 – Alison's work: Evolving to help women use behavioral science for confidence.
• 00:04:00 – The struggle of self-introduction: How to talk about accomplishments without sounding boastful.
• 00:07:00 – The common mistake: Hiding successes and why it damages relationships.
• 00:11:00 – Using experimentation to lean into assertiveness.
• 00:16:00 – Mastering the art of making people curious about you.
• 00:21:40 – Advice for rewriting your story during a "messy middle" career transition.
• 00:29:30 – The power of other promoters and the three ways to get them talking about you.
• 00:36:00 – Simple ways to add value to your network within a five-minute bandwidth.
• 00:48:20 – The final takeaway: Why "authentic and strategic" is your new mantra.

About Alison Fragale:

• Website: https://alisonfragale.com/
• Book: Likable Badass: How Women Get the Success They Deserve Newsletter: The Upper Hand: Behavioral Science to Help Women Excel: https://alisonfragale.com/book/
• In-Person Event: Both Alison and Megan are speaking at the Women Lead NC event on November 13th in Raleigh, North Carolina. Grab your ticket here: https://ncchamber.com/event/women-lead-nc-raleigh/

For Real on Social Media:

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/forrealwithmegan/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ForRealPodcast

Hosted by Megan Gillikin, For Real is presented by The Planner's Vault, and is produced by Walk West.

The Next Chapter VIP Experience: January 12, 2025 in Cary NC - https://www.megangillikin.com/2026-next-chapter-vip-experience