Soar to Success April 2021

L eadership is influence. Nothing more and nothing less. Every day we’re confronted with situations where we need to influence, lead and persuade people. The spectrum is really wide too, from persuading your children to clean their room, to convincing your boss to give you a raise. It’s all about influence. Our ability to deal successfully with people determines the quality of our business life, our family life, and our social life. Ultimately, our success in life and in any endeavor will be solely determined by how well we influence other people. Our ideas will never see the light of day if we can’t persuade others why it’s such a great idea. Excellent influencing skills require a healthy combination of interpersonal, communication, presentation, and assertiveness techniques. But there is no right way, nor is there only one way to influence others. Everything is a factor when influencing people. Dale Carnegie’s “How to Win Friends and Influence People” gives an incredible insight By Jack Klemeyer How to Influence Another Person – Some ideas into human behavior. If you’ve never read this classic book, I highly recommend it. We must have a proper understanding of people and their nature if we are ever to win others to our way of thinking. When you gain a proper understanding, then, and only then, can you become a successful person of influence. “When you see things through Jane Brown’s eyes, you’ll sell Jane Brown what Jane Brown buys.” Influencing is about being able to move things forward, without pushing, forcing, or telling others what to do. It’s the ability to use all the various tools at your disposal, both verbal and non-verbal communication, to create the impact you want, rather than letting things just happen. If you can make people understand your view, then they will be far more willing to at least meet you halfway. Even more so if you make them feel acknowledged, understood, and appreciated, they may even end up doing or agreeing to something they wouldn’t have previously done because they feel good about making the choice.