The Power of Influence

The first and toughest person to influence is yourself.- Chris Richardson

We all hold some level of influence and are also being influenced by others and society. Influence is powerful and can be used in beneficial and very harmful ways. It's important we understand the difference and not cross the boundary into manipulation. 

Positive Outcomes 

Once you understand the basic process of influencing others in a positive way, you can apply it to personal and professional situations where you want to move people toward shared goals. You can improve your relationships with others by tuning in to their feelings and listening actively to their words. 

You can become a more effective communicator and avoid misunderstandings in your personal and professional life. 

You can help prevent and resolve conflicts by identifying common ground. You can help to support people’s abilities to make changes in any area of their lives, such as in health and education. You can become a better leader, a better team member or team leader, and improve your ability to work with others. 

You will create more positive outcomes for yourself and for others, whether you’re trying to persuade someone to get involved in a cause you care about, or whether you’re trying to help people make value based decisions and better choices that will improve their health, their education or their relationships.

5 Effective Ways to Lead With Influence

Establish Rapport

Why: Establishing a connection fosters trust and makes the other person more open to your suggestions.

When to Use: In a business negotiation such as obtaining a new client or seeking a raise.

Employ Empathy

Why: When people feel understood they feel valued and heard. Empathy helps to bond people.

When to Use: When conflicts arise or with someone who is stubborn about changing or learning new methods.

Provide Logical Evidence and Reasoning

Why: It is hard to argue with data and facts.

When to Use: This is helpful in personal predicaments such as disputes with a landlord, claims you might want to make to a human resource professional or any matter that arises in your life where conflict is at play.

Appeal to Emotions

Why: Emotions are really strong motivators for acting, and can often influence decisions more than logic.

When to Use: This technique is great for marketing material, in fundraising, or in any situation where you want to inspire action. Use stories or anecdotes to connect with your audience on an emotional level.

Highlight Mutual Benefits

How: Pointing out that the action would be good for everyone involved can frame the request as a ‘yes’ for both the other person and you.

When to Use: This strategy is useful in negotiations or collaborative projects with others, wherein you’re reaching for a shared goal. Explain how the action you are proposing benefits your respective interests.

What is the worst way to try and convince someone to do something, and why don’t you recommend it?

Ultimately, the worst way to persuade someone to do something is to coerce or manipulate them. Such tactics destroy trust in relationships, foster resentment and trigger resistance. 

People might acquiesce in the short term but are unlikely to be committed to the task. And given that most persuasive attempts aim to enlist long-term action, manipulative approaches are unlikely to get the person to follow through in the future. 

Such tactics are also ethically questionable. Furthermore, when you manipulate people (intentionally or not), you are undermining your own integrity. 

Such coercive or manipulative approaches damage relationships, and as a result, meaningful influence is less likely to be achieved. 

It’s clear to us that respectful and collaborative approaches are the best strategies for influence and persuasion – they’re much more likely to be effective than any other approach and much more likely to benefit everyone involved.