"Who shall set a limit to the influence of a human being?"

~Ralph Waldo Emerson

I have recently been working a lot with teams on helping to define exactly what Leadership skills, as a team, must be developed to accomplish the goals laid out for them. One theme is consistently coming up for these different leadership teams. That theme is Influencing.

What is influence? According to dictionary.com it is "the capacity or power of persons or things to be a compelling force on or produce effects on the actions, behavior, opinions, etc. of another or others."

I also believe that influencing is about being able to move things forward without forcing or demanding others to do what you want. It is not about having formal power at all.

As I started to observe everyday behaviors around this theme of influencing, I noticed that influencing is needed anywhere we want to make a change.

It is needed in our organizations when we need our team's commitment and extra effort, or when we want to implement strategies and policies successfully. It is especially needed when we want to obtain cooperation and support from our peers over whom we have no authority.

We need influencing skills when working in our community. When we want to impact a change on a non-profit board or community committee we are working with, knowing that our perspective and approach have the possibility of being the best for the organization, you can bet we need influencing skills.

We need influencing skills with our neighbors and friends and family. Who hasn't used influencing skills on their teenager?

Influencing skills seem to be about a combination of good communication, connections with those you are trying to influence, presentation and assertiveness skills, and mostly, finding what works for you and what your style is.

One important key to influencing is that people will listen and be willing to come part of the way if they feel understood and acknowledged. Especially for their differences.

In a study by Cecilia Falbe and Gary Yukl, inspiration is the number one influence tactic. Influence is found to get a 90% commitment and a 10% compliance rate. The next most effective influence tactic is consultation, with a 55% commitment.

So, if you want to influence...inspire!

Step into leading and play a Bigger Game in your life...don't wait...model leadership...the World needs us to do this. Lead strong!

Pat

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Here are 26 alphabetical tips for living an inspired and successful life.

Ask for what you want.
Be who you say you are.
Care about others.
Dare to live your dreams.
Ease through the day.
Find the best fit.
Give to another.
Hug a friend.
Inspire someone to greatness.
Jump over a boundary.
Kick a bad habit.
Leap across a fear.
Mention something uplifting.
Never say never.
Open your mind and heart.
Pursue your innermost passions.
Quit complaining.
Restore your smile.
Set your sights high.
Trust yourself.
Use all the day.
Value everything.
Wait until it feels right.
Xpress yourself.
Yank weeds from your mental garden.
Zoom into the now.

Written by Carol James

With thanks to Fran Briggs for sharing this story - http://www.franbriggs.com

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• Influencing with Integrity by Genie Z. Laborde
  
  
• Meeting the Collaboration Challenge Workbook: Developing Strategic Alliances Between Nonprofit Organizations and Businesses by Peter F. Drucker Foundation
  
  
• Influence: The Psychology of Persuasion (Collins Business Essentials)by Robert B. Cialdini
  

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• Healthy Influence is the new way to get what you want . . . with words. This site has some interesting sharing of knowledge about influencing others.

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