The final component in our COMPASS series is about how to skillfully influence others.
Let’s start by agreeing on the premise that we’re all leaders since we all have the ability to influence others. But how do we do that?
A great way to influence others is to understand their goals. What are they trying to achieve? What obstacles are they facing? How could they be helped? Do they want assistance?
If yes, determine what and how you can help them attain each goal. A friend found this formula: LEAP = Listen, Empathize, Agree, and Plan.
Listen to their goals, empathize with their situation, agree on tasks, and begin to plan.
The PeopleTek COMPASS identifies key components for providing direction and for obtaining desired results. Use it throughout your career!
If the only tool you have is a hammer, you tend to see every problem as a nail.
–Mark Twain
The key to successful leadership today is influence, not authority.
–Kenneth Blanchard
Skillfully Influencing Others
Our “self-talk” greatly impacts if and how we’ll influence others. A lack of confidence will inhibit us from expressing our opinions, especially when we fear rejection.
There are two different styles that are used in influencing others:
- Openness in communication
- Consideration for others
Our level of openness is what dictates how willing we are to share our life experiences, our thoughts, and our emotions with others. (In contrast with volunteering minimal information).
Consideration is displayed by our willingness to accept and respond to others in the way they prefer. To some this includes an intensity to preserve the rights of others as they would their own. The opposing style is to display little respect for the opinions, feelings, and reactions of others, with no interest in showing support.
In addition to being open and considerate of others, those that skillfully and positively influencing others are aware of and appropriately utilize the following:
- Body posture
- Facial expression
- Eye contact
- Tone of voice
- Fluency of speech
- Directness of speech
- Verbal behavior
Passion has a lot to do with the effort we’ll make to influence others. If passion is missing, it’s easy to defer to others, and step back. When passion exists, we’re much more inclined to influence others to a greater extent, and risk disagreement or rejection.
QWIKCOACH says:
To get others to see or understand your point of view, you need to show them how your point of view or approach would help them to achieve their goals more easily and/or effectively.
Nothing is more important than having the facts and knowing what you’re talking about. Therefore, to be sure you’ve done all your homework any time you want to present your ideas in a way that is most likely to influence others, write down every possible question that you think they might ask, and prepare yourself by knowing the answer to each one.
Now complete your COMPASS. Click here and scroll to the bottom to access the COMPASS template.
Do you naturally use your influencing skills? Is it an effort? How do you respond to rejection?
What are your strengths and what could you change in regards to skillfully influencing others? What would others say about your skill to influence others?
Recommended reading:
Getting To Yes—Roger Fisher, William L. Ury and Bruce Patton
How to Win friends and Influence People–Dale Carnegie
By skillfully influencing others, productivity gains of 2 to 3 hours a week are realized. How much are you contributing to an increase in productivity?