How to influence?

Standing in the supermarket queue the other evening, I overheard a conversation between a parent and child.  A tired looking mum was maintaining a robust line about something and despite privately agreeing with her stance, I couldn’t help but admire her daughter’s persuasive powers and negotiating skills. At age 7 or 8, she clearly understood the need for compromise, positive triggers likely to appeal to her mother and when to cut her losses and  try a new approach.  As I waited, I reflected on how women in the workplace to seem to lose those skills, sometimes voluntarily, to their detriment