Influencing does not only mean a boy trying to get a girl to go on a date with him. Art of influencing is a powerful tool which will help you shoot up the ladder in both personal and professional life.
However, methods of influencing can be misunderstood. There is a right way and there is a wrong way as shown below.
Extraordinary people inspire and lead by their power of influence. But do you know how do they do it?
They understood that – in simpler words – you cannot sell a product, pitch a story or teach a course without building a bond that gives you an authoritative position. Here are some super tips to achieve this.
Mantra-1 : Develop An Emotional Connect
Connect with people with feelings and not mechanically. At the end of the day, you are trying to influence humans and not non-living beings. Be the one who listens to their concerns, their stories and their venting.
Appreciate their achievements and be generous with compliments. Emotional connection is a weapon that can overpower any hurdle. On the contrary, if you connect with people artificially just to gain a dominant position, you will be exposed soon.
Mantra-2 : Be Authentic
To influence people in a way that leaves an indelible mark on their minds, be authentic. Refrain from copying others and bring authenticity to the table by identifying the factors that make you unique. Do not pretend to be what you are not.
The reason why social media influencers manage to make it so big is that they have carved a niche for themselves and work in an unconventional way. In their case “What You See Is What You Get”. That’s authentic and that’s why people are influenced by what they say.
Mantra-3 : Lead With A Story
Undoubtedly, personal narratives, testimonials, and stories are powerful. A well-timed and well-told story is unbeatable when it comes to influencing a large number of people.
For instance, Abraham Lincoln’s motivational story of triumph over adversity inspires millions. If you plan to motivate people and make them understand that consistent efforts can even move mountains, then his story is a classic example.
Here is an insight of the story of the life of Abraham Lincoln.
1818: Lost his mother at the age of 9
1832: Lost his job
1832: Defeated for legislature
1833: Failed in business
1833: Went into debt (Took 10 Yrs. to pay off)
1834: Elected to legislature
1835: The woman he loved and was to marry died
1836: Had a nervous breakdown
1838: Defeated for Speaker
1843: Defeated for nomination for Congress
1848: Lost re-nomination
1849: Rejected for Land Officer
1854: Defeated for Senate
1856: Defeated for nomination for Vice-President
1858: Again defeated for Senate
1860: Elected for President of The United States of America
Mantra-4 : Motivate & Empower Them
Empowering others will empower you. Remember people will never forget how you made them feel good at any point in life. Encourage their ventures, support their struggles and clap on their victories – however small. Everybody wants to feel good about himself/herself.
Once you begin empowering people, you will feel that you are also influencing them. No great influencer ever became successful without enabling people to recognize their strengths to better their lives.
The Takeaway
Learning how to influence others isn’t just a skill that is for the leaders of Fortune 500 companies. It is more in use by ordinary people on a daily basis as they go about meeting the challenges of personal and professional growth.
You can ignore the power to influence others at your own peril. Don’t.