Whether you agree or not, having an influence at work has a lot of advantages. Professor and PowerMentor David LaChapelle wrote “If CEOs truly understood the power of their influence if used effectively and appropriately, considering their positional strength, many organizations would be stronger and more sustainable.” Acquiring and building influence at work is vital to your success as a regular employee by helping to boost your credibility making your opinions and suggestions more welcomed or even sought after.
Why Build Influence At Work
The ability to influence other people is an essential skill of a good leader or a team player. In a company, the higher your position, the more power you have. Power means to influence, and influence is power. Having influence can yield a lot of opportunities and perks. By having influence, you are also offered a great responsibility to use your leverage positively to help uplift your colleagues or juniors.
6 Strategies to Build Influence At Work
Acquiring influence is not instantaneous. To be an effective influencer, you need a strong character, a well-planned strategy, and solid performance at work. Here are some strategies on how you can build influence at work:
Build Trust
Only with trust, can you influence people so make it to a point to be genuine. Talk to them, offer help if needed and share stories or experiences with them. Once you have that trust, they will be more open to your influence. Respect your coworkers and make them feel they’re special. Listen to them, exchange stories, and actively encourage them.
Take On Ambitious Projects
Take on ambitious projects, especially those that demonstrate leadership. Let your colleagues know that they can count on you to accomplish even the toughest tasks. By taking tough tasks and following through, your supervisors and colleagues will begin to see your potential.
Develop An Expertise
One of the best ways to build influence at work is by having an expertise. Be a person with whom others can seek out advice in understanding an essential task. If you are good at what you do, chances are people will look for you and ask for your feedback which creates credibility (which is essential in building influence). Find something you’re good at or have a passion for and continuously upgrade that skill.
Make Yourself Visible in Meetings
Give out useful suggestions or commend your colleagues for their good work during company meetings. This way, you’re able to lay your groundwork by supporting others. People are more likely to support you if they feel that you’re also supporting them. Try to add to the conversation in a helpful way to showcase your expertise, willingness to help, and ability to gainfully contribute in a knowledgeable way.
Avoid Conflicts
Drop petty and useless issues at work and let your work speak for you. Building influence at work involves working hard and being professional in a consistent way with the quality of your work as well as your work ethics.
Believe in Yourself
Trust your ideas and be confident. Act like a winner and don’t be apologetic especially if you know that you’re right. However, you also have to remain respectful while being assertive. Believing in yourself can make a difference. Most of the time, when people see your confidence, they will be more confident in your work, too. If you think you lack confidence, you can find coaches or mentors that can help you develop a confident mindset.
Influence is a vital part of work. However, your goal should be getting the respect of your workmates.