Have you ever asked for support from someone who isn’t interested in helping you?
Or had a great idea that you believe will improve things, but no one seems to listen?
We all wish we had more influence over those around us. Influence causes change in someone else’s attitudes or behaviours. We tend to think that it depends on our level of authority, but that’s not true.
While influencing others can be complex, it can also be learned. To have influence, we need to grasp the finer points of:
- power and influence
- relationships
- communication and collaboration.
Why is it useful?
Once upon a time we could rely on our authority, or place in an organisational hierarchy, to get others to do work tasks.
But with today’s flat structures and “lean” organisations, workers have more responsibilities than ever before. We also interact with more people both in and outside our organisations, and without clear hierarchical lines. So as leaders, we need the skills to influence a wide range of people.
The good news is that it’s not your authority or ability to give orders that will produce a desired behaviour in a colleague.
To truly do what you ask, those around you need to “buy in” and be motivated and committed to perform at their best.
Let Leda show you the techniques you need to influence those at all levels — not just your direct reports.
