Evaluating Your Own Influence by Cindy Stradling CSP, CPC
The ability to influence others can put you at a significant advantage in the business world. When you are influential, you are able to gain the results you desire without directing another person’s actions. This is a powerful ability.
Many people have no idea how much or how little influence they have nor how to increase their sphere of influence. If you are wondering about your own ability to influence others, here are some things to consider.
1. Under what circumstances do you attempt to influence others? Are you conscious of yourself trying to influence others? If you pay attention to your everyday activities and find that you are never attempting to influence other people, you may be putting yourself at a disadvantage.
2. Are your attempts to influence transparent in regard to being clearly for your own good? Being conscious of how often you try to influence others and why can give you insight in whether or not your motives are self serving, and potentially damaging to your reputation.
3. Do people do what you want them to do? If you regularly find that people follow your advice and steer toward your preferences, you clearly have influence. Learn how to develop that influence further. On the other hand, if people tend to do exactly the opposite of what you suggest, then your influence is negative. Maybe it is, again, the result of you using your influence only for your own benefit.
Using Influence Appropriately
People who are good influencers offer great benefit to the world. When you have the ability to steer others in the direction of doing the right thing, your influence can improve many situations in both the business world and your personal life. This is why it is so important to be aware of your own ability to influence others and how often you use it.
Don’t sell yourself short. Many people have no idea how much influence their opinion and actions have on others around them. You may have the potential to help create great things, without ever realizing it.
The key to being able to influence others is sincerity. This is why so many people who have great influence never realize it. Their sincerity is what makes them so influential, yet they never attempt to use it for gain.
Take the time to think about your own influence in the world around you. Using your influence appropriately can be a great benefit for increasing the good your organization does on a day to day basis.
