I’ve often been working with teams or coaching on a project where they have come up with a brilliant idea, plan or decision. They are so often focused on the thing itself but most of these things require something more important, influence.

However, it’s becoming more apparent that it feels like a dirty word… maybe because it’s been so linked to sales techniques. Whether we feel like we are manipulating or tricking people into doing what we want. I think we may have got the perspectives wrong, or even more simply… the pairings. For example, pair influence with effective collaboration instead of “sales”. There is a huge power in being able to influence but as uncle ben said “with great power comes great responsibility!”, I think if we hold that value true then influence is worth practising!

“Influence is a practiced skill”

I think a lot of times people assume that others have been gifted with influence. They have all the ingredients given to them at birth which makes them the best of the best. Without this “gift” you may feel you don’t have the ability to influence. This couldn’t be further from the truth… influence is a practiced skill. Those who have it, practice it! Those who either don’t focus on it or avoid it lack it! You could have the best idea, plan or profound decision, but if you can’t influence others who will help to make it possible then you are dead in the water. The message is more important than the actual thing…

Years ago some bright and smart individual came up with sliced bread, funny thing was… no one bought it! It wasn’t until someone came along and gave people a reason to buy it. Some 100+ years later, we are buying sliced bread as a normal thing to do. My wife would question me if I bought a non sliced loaf home!

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