“The key to successful leadership today is influence, not authority. ”
–Ken Blanchard
Many people don’t know, or are not aware, that the key to leadership is influence. Everyone wants to have influence. Think about it. If we want to effect change, like even getting our children to brush their teeth or make their bed in the morning, we are an influencer. Influence is having people do something because they want to, not just because we are the boss, or the mom or dad.
If you have ever had a conversation where you have changed the outcome or improved the situation, that is practicing influence. The definition of influence is the act or power of producing a result without apparent coercion or power. Influence is the ability to bring your ideas, skills and voice to your organization or to others without stepping on others.
John Maxwell gives us two ways to help people develop influence.
1. The way we gain influence is to intentionally add value to others. This can be as simple as giving an encouraging word or compliment. We can ask deeper questions to show that we care. When asking the question, “how are you?”, we can listen to the unspoken words in their response to see how they are really feeling.
It’s really easy to see other’s faults, isn’t it? We can always look to see the good in other people and make sure we acknowledge others good qualities. This shows them we value them.
Slow down. Our society is in such a hurry to create results, that sometimes relationships can be left on the wayside. Slow down enough to listen to others to see if we can’t serve them in some way. Oh geesh, often, I am so guilty of quickly wanting to move to the next task.
“there is a crying need for people who will make the time to listen, for people who will resist the ‘skitterish impatience’ so prevalent in our age and make people more important than progress.” (Dale Carnegie & Associates)
2. We can gain influence by not looking at the other person as a way to get what we want. Influence is not manipulative, nor is it being a doormat, either. Influence is somewhere in the middle between those two. It is practicing mutuality, looking for what benefits “us,” and not just what profits us.
An organization is only as great as its people. As leaders, when we add value to others and look for ways to mutually benefit our people, the more our people want to follow us. Positive influence enhances the motivation, personal responsibility and performance of our teams.
What can you do to add value to people in your organization tomorrow? What programs can you implement that mutually benefit everyone in your organization?
(By the way, I told you I would have my personal mission statement for you last week…read the P.S.)
Valuing you!
Jan
Jan McDonald
John Maxwell Team
(still CEO of Life Options)
P.S. My mission statement starts here: “My highest objective is to help people become their best selves, by creating a plan, together, that meets their personal and organizational aspirations.” Still thinking on it. Have you started yours?
Comments are closed.