Extract from Influential Leadership: A Leader’s Guide to Getting Things Done
Those exceptional abilities you have which enable you to get things done.
People don’t get ahead and become highly influential by being the same as everyone else. In this source, it points to the particular skills which you have which really stand out. You are not just good at these, you are exceptionally good, and others know it. These skills need to be relevant to your Leadership Arena and the work you are engaged with.
For example, imagine you are well known for your ability to build rapport and connect at an emotional level. This can increase your influence as an Influential Leader because:
- Being more approachable you will hear more about what is really going on in the organisation.
- People are more likely to come to you for help, and in return will help you too.
- Others will hope up and be more honest with you.
- You will have deeper relationships and greater loyalty among your connections.
- New people will proactively come and introduce themselves. This gives you early opportunity to shape and influence.
- Others will proactively to help you in case they need your help at a later date.
Other skills which are particularly useful in generating greater power and influence include:
- Charm: Yes, this is a skill which can be learned. People tend to want to be in the company and good books of charming people because it makes them feel good about themselves.
- Motivation: The ability to get people to want to do what you want them to do is really useful. It avoid the need to force or manipulate and increases commitment.
- Inspiration: If you have the skill of being able to inspire others around you, the discretionary effort and energy they will put into your projects will exceed your expectations.
- Rhetoric and Persuasion: The ability to structure your communication to get people on side in the most effective manner is one of the key skills you need as an influential leader. Arguably, you cannot be one without this skill.
- Negotiation: Not only a handy skill when you need to use it, but also, awareness that you have it will affect others making them think hard before they try to get more than their fair share from you.
I’m not going to say any more here about the important way in which skills contribute to your power because Chapter 8: Increasing Your Skills as an Influential Leader is dedicated to this element of the framework. For now, it is worth simply pointing out that in terms of power, skills can do much more than simply help you to do your job well when you use them. The recognition that you have certain skills will help you to be more influential.
Colin Gautrey
Provocative Coach/Mentor | Specialism: Impact and Influence
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