Private Insights on Influence

Would Your Team Choose You as Their Leader?

While reviewing a book proposal a few weeks ago, it struck me that here was another great missive working on the assumption that people get to choose their leader. It was suggesting that what you need to do to be a great leader is figure out why your followers are...

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Do You Trust Me?

Have you ever asked this question? It wouldn't surprise me if only 1% of people who ask this question actually ask it out loud. If you did ask someone this question, would you trust the answer? Hmm, probably about as useful as asking someone to trust you. If you have...

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Dirty Tricks and Office Politics

If you feel bad about office politics that go on around you, you are certainly not alone. In any group of more than one, people will be trying to influence each other and some people use less savoury tactics or dirty tricks, in order to get their way. Here are some of...

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Understanding Conflicting Agendas

Unless you understand someone else’s position, ambitions and problems, your influence attempts could be much more difficult. When others don’t want to cooperate or are working against you, “conflicting agendas” are often cited as the cause. This seems to signal a...

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Introduction to Stakeholder Identification

To achieve your goals and influence effectively, it is vital to focus your energy on those who can have the greatest ability to help or hinder. Without this focus, people tend to work on those who are nearest, best known or most convenient rather than those whom they...

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What Is Group Power? How to Influence Strategically

This is another of those simple concepts often over-complicated by well-meaning consultants in the realms of organisational psychology. Avoiding the complexity gives you more time to act. Once you understand what group power is, it will become easier to spot...

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