Positive Influence summary

When discussing influence, it’s important not to confuse it with manipulation.

Here’s a workplace scenario to illustrate influence in action. Vik, a project leader, aims to impress his superiors, while Sue-Ann, the project sponsor, is balancing work demands with family commitments. Vik and Sue-Ann have their individual goals, and they must both align these with the broader objectives of the project. It’s not solely about Vik's ambitions or Sue-Ann’s quest for balance. Instead, they need to harmonize their personal goals to prioritize the shared aim of project success. Through this scenario, we realize that influence is about aligning diverse interests to serve a common purpose.

Now, let's touch upon manipulation, the not-so-pleasant cousin of influence. Manipulation is self-serving and often harmful to others. It’s like a chess game in which you’d think several moves ahead solely for your gain, regardless of how it affects others. Positive influence, on the other hand, is about creating a scenario in which everyone’s needs are considered and addressed.

Imagine if Vik, focused solely on his career advancement, manipulated project data to appear more successful, while disregarding the team's efforts and Sue-Ann's need for stability. This self-serving tactic might give Vik a temporary edge, but it harms the project’s integrity and erodes trust within the team. Manipulation only brings about detrimental effects.

Speaking of trust, it’s worth noting that influence has more to do with effective communication at heart than plain old persuasion, which tends to center on personal gain. You cannot just broadcast your message and hope it sticks enough for people to pick it up. By communicating transparently, you establish a two-way street on which understanding, empathy, and mutual inspiration come into play to extend your reach. To influence people, you need to be willing to follow up and engage them in meaningful dialogue.

Suppose Vik emailed ambitious project goals to impress his superiors, but didn’t seek Sue-Ann and the team’s feedback. His approach, while informative to his higher-ups, would miss the chance for collaborative input from his team. This scenario demonstrates the limits of one-way communication and how it keeps influence from serving its purpose.

Ultimately, being positively influential involves collaboration and mutual respect – two things that help you balance individual and collective needs. You’re not winning at the expense of any team member under your watch.

Now that you know what influence is and isn’t, let’s find out whether you’re any good at it – and what to do if you’re falling short.