In this case, Phillips took advantage of the Mets' willingness to spend for a championship and the leverage that star players now wield in shaping their own careers.
Whoever is president, however, will still have important leverage for his agenda and allied interest groups in shaping any compromises.
A better conclusion would be for Israel to take its own step forward, leveraging these soft power abilities, taking responsibility for its part in the past, and acknowledging its crucial role in shaping the future of the two nations.
The movement's candidates did well in last month's election, giving them increased leverage to shape a new government that they say should not be led by the incumbent prime minister, Nuri Kamal al-Maliki.
Republicans now routinely draw out debate on what used to be formalities, in order to exert what Mr. McConnell would describe as leverage to "shape" objectionable measures.
Fifty years ago, the world was shaped in a certain way, to promote certain values, because America had the leverage to shape it that way.
In Western countries, analysts say, the party exerts influence over Chinese immigrants and students through embassies, consulates and community organizations, as well as business interests with the financial leverage to shape local Chinese-language media coverage.
With the lower House of Representatives firmly in Republican hands, winning control of the Senate would enable the party to effectively shut down Democratic President Barack Obama's agenda in the last two years of his term and give it significant leverage in the way he shapes his government.
Republicans now understand that higher tax rates on the wealthy is Mr. Obama's No. 1 priority, so rather than give in, some strategists say they should hold out to leverage those to shape other aspects of a final deal.
Individual citizens wishing to help shape their local health services will not find it easy to gain leverage in this world.
