Influence
What is influence, when do you have it, and why are influence skills essential for being and remaining successful and relevant as a professional?
Why Influence
Influence is a tricky term, we admit. It’s not immediately associated with practical skills that can be learned in training. You might even lump influence together with power or manipulation. At The Influence Company, we see influence as a very positive term. Our definition of influence is about the behavior you employ to steer situations in your favor without straining the relationship with your conversation partner.
Test your Influence
Take our free Influence Test to assess your abilities and receive personalised tips and tricks to improve your impact and influence!
When are you truly influential?
Influential people take responsibility for what they want, have a clear goal in mind, and can inspire and lead others towards that vision. So… why influence? So that you gain insight into your natural behavior, can flexibly apply that behavior, and accomplish much more with less effort together with your conversation partners or colleagues.
Positive influence is the foundation of your career. People who are flexible in their influential behavior have more impact and can achieve more.
Positive Influence
Positive influence is about making an impact
- We
- Asks
- Dialogue
- Good and wrong
- Hopes to be right
- Works with people
- Appreciates others
- Expects feedback or criticism
- Motivates people by genuinely connecting with them
- Relies on collaboration to get things done
Negative Influence
Negative influence is about wielding power
- Me versus you
- Demands
- Monologue
- Good or bad
- Wants to be right
- Uses people
- Requires recognition from others
- Doesn’t tolerate feedback or criticism
- Motivates people through pressure
- Relies on authority to get things done
Becoming influential requires a good set of Influence Skills
Becoming influential isn’t just about what you say, but how you say it. Developing strong influence skills allows you to communicate with confidence, gain trust, and navigate challenging situations effectively. With the right approach, you can inspire others, drive results, and build lasting relationships.
Knowing when to use each Influence Skill and -Style is extremely important
Mastering influence involves not only understanding the four key influence styles but also developing the essential influence skills to apply them effectively. The four styles—Bridging, Persuading, Asserting, and Attracting—each play a distinct role in different situations. Bridging helps you connect and build rapport, Persuading allows you to present your case convincingly, Asserting enables you to stand firm and advocate for your position, and Attracting draws people in with your charisma and vision. Along with these styles, strong influence skills such as communication, empathy, and problem-solving are crucial for knowing when and how to use each style to maximize your impact and achieve your goals.
Get familiar with our training programmes
You can sign up for an introduction to one of our current or new training programmes through a live webinar. Additionally, you can watch a recorded version of one of our live webinars at a time that suits you best.
Download now, read later
Would you like to have more in-depth information of what we do and how are training programmes look like? You can download one of our popular e-books with tips & tricks and with relatable scenarios to office employees.
Learn how you truly change your behaviour
It’s about doing things differently tomorrow than you did today. That’s what matters.
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