If you want to become more influential, you must pause — but not for long. Action is essential, but action without thought is stupid.
So, let’s pause a moment to think about simple ways you can act to increase your influence, 23 things you could do today.
Now, I insist that the first two are mandatory, and need to be completed right now. The rest you can cheery pick the most relevant and useful.
Influence Action No. 1
Go and get a coffee and a notebook. Influence takes preparation. Spend 15 minutes thinking about the ideas below and how they could apply to your situation. A little common sense will be required as you translate them into the challenges you face, but a little caffeine should help you stay alert to this.
Influence Action No. 2
Make a firm commitment, to yourself, to identify three actions for influence you can take today, inspired by this list, to become more influential — in the next 15 minutes.
With the first two influence actions already completed, let’s move on to the main list. As you scan, note down each one that you “could do”. Later, refine them to what you “will do”.
Influence Action No. 3
Identify three Influencing Goals, which, if you succeed, will make your work so much easier. Stick with priorities. Most people only think vaguely about goals, and the more successful get them pinned to the wall with precision. Half the battle when it comes to influence is working out exactly what you want people to do, think, or feel differently.
Influence Action No. 4
If you’re struggling to influence a key stakeholder, go and ask them why. Then ask them what it would take for them to say yes. Many people wander around imagining what it will take. The successful people use their communication and relationship skills to simply ask.
Influence Action No. 5
Alternatively, find someone you trust who knows the individual well. Get specific and then ask them for their help — can they assist you in working out how you need to change in your approach?
Influence Action No. 6
Create an interrupt. What are your opponents expecting you to do? What are they not expecting you to do, or perhaps, what would surprise them the most? Worth a go?
Influence Action No. 7
Meet with your mentor and take them through your Stakeholder Influence Map. Not got a mentor? Get one. Not got a map? Get one!
Influence Action No. 8
Consider someone who is opposing or resisting you. Now in your mind enter their world. What would you do, in their shoes, to keep resisting your influence — what would you do in their place to stop you from succeeding? Get creative and see it from their side. When you enter their world you will be able to identify new action you can take.
Influence Action No. 9
What meetings have you been putting off because they are difficult? Take an action today to get it set up. Simple.
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Influence Action No. 10
Before your next meeting or call, pause and identify exactly what you want to influence by the end of the call. Get specific.
Influence Action No. 11
Translate your latest pitch so that it addresses the organisation’s declared strategy point for point. Fitting your working into the organisational context makes it more relevant and compelling, and streamlines your work as an influencer.
Influence Action No. 12
Write down the top three things on the personal agenda of your most important or difficult opponent. How does your agenda help or hinder their agenda? What can you change about your approach or the way you talk to them about what you want?
Influence Action No. 13
Rather than skirt around a difficult issue, tackle it head on today. Go on, just have a go. Usually these things are not as bad as you think they will be, and the sooner you get moving, the sooner it will be resolved.
Influence Action No. 14
Write down 15 specific benefits you will receive if you achieve the influence you are seeking. When the going gets tough, we all need these lists as a quick reminder of why we are working so hard.
Influence Action No. 15
Write down a list of ten things you are currently trying to influence. Identify three that you can put to one side for a month while you reinvest your time on your main influencing goals. Focus begets progress.
Influence Action No. 16
Think of someone you know who is influential. What can you learn from their example? Decide on one thing to start doing yourself today.
Influence Action No. 17
Approach a senior individual, find a sincere way to praise them, and ask if they could mentor you.
Influence Action No. 18
Score yourself out of ten for each of your Personal Brand words, based on your performance yesterday. What three things could you do today to improve your scores? Not heard of this before? Quickly think of three words that you would like to be left in the minds of the people you meet, when they think ab out you.
Influence Action No. 19
Get that Stakeholder Influence Map. You can find this in many places, including my books, Influential Leadership: A Leader’s Guide to Getting Things Done and Advocates and Enemies: A Practical Guide to Influencing Your Stakeholders (go look them up!)
Influence Action No. 20
Offer to connect someone who is in need to a member of your network who could possibly help them in some way.
Influence Action No. 21
Find a colleague at your level and identify a genuine reason why you could praise or thank them, then do it today. Make it real, and unexpected for maximum impact. And, don’t do it just so you can get something back right away.
Influence Action No. 22
Send an invite for coffee/lunch to someone in another department you don’t know very well — “I’d like to learn more about the challenges you and your team are facing right now” or something similar. If you did this just once a week, by the end of the year your network would be much stronger.
Influence Action No. 23
List three people whom you advocate most and find one way of promoting each of them today — yes, that’s three more actions!
Right, now review your list of “could do’s” and turn them into a list of “will do today’s”. Keep this list handy so you can do some more tomorrow.
If you want more influence, the best way of achieving it is to break the habits of old, and do something different. Practice, play and explore. Have some fun. The more you do this, the more you’ll want to do it. Before you know it, you’ll be in a very different position.
Colin Gautrey
Provocative Coach/Mentor | Specialism: Impact and Influence
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