7 Ways To Gain Influence In Your Company Without Having A Title
Workplaces are changing, with many organizations shifting from a structured top-down hierarchy to a more collaborative team-centered dynamic. One result of that shift is a growing demand for leaders at all levels.
In a complex and evolving workplace culture, you have the ability to lead, whatever your role. Here are seven sure-fire ways to gain influence up, down and across your organization without having a title:
Embrace who you are: Your thoughts influence not only your feelings but also your actions. In fact, our inner monologues have a tendency to become a self-fulfilling prophecy. The path to influence starts within you. Who you are, and who you tell yourself you’re becoming, will help determine your impact.
Cultivate meaningful relationships: Making connections and building relationships are key to any form of influence. If you are serious about leaving your mark, work on cultivating meaningful relationships at every level. That means being your same authentic self and expressing a genuine interest in people at every level. Relationships and connections are an important part of influence.
Build trust. Meaningful influence is built on trust. The more people trust you, the more they’ll respect you and the more influence you’ll wield. Build a reputation for being reliable, straightforward, and principled in everything you do, and trust will naturally follow.
Manage your knowledge. In every organization information is power, and the more information you have the more valuable you are. So find ways to increase your store of information that’s valuable to the organization and its leadership. Learn a new skill, think through strategic solutions, become familiar with the latest technology. Use your knowledge to streamline challenges and your value will grow.
Sharpen your strength. Focus on your strengths by perfecting, sharing and utilizing your talents. Never pass up a chance to use your expertise to help others. Sharpen your strengths and share them generously.
Give the gift of time: Many people are too busy with their own concerns to give their time to others. Spend some time each day getting to know the people in your organization, learning who they are and how you can support them.
Make people feel valued:. It is one of the deepest human desires to be recognized, and one of the best ways to influence people is to make them feel they are appreciated. Work to see people for who they are and what they do. People enjoy those rare moments when others make them feel valued.
You can gain influence in your organization without power, authority or a title. It’s all about your character, knowledge, and helpfulness. What you do with those inner powers will make all the difference.
Lead from within: Leadership comes only from influence, and influence has to be earned.
#1 N A T I O N A L B E S T S E L L E RThe Leadership Gap
What Gets Between You and Your Greatness
After decades of coaching powerful executives around the world, Lolly Daskal has observed that leaders rise to their positions relying on a specific set of values and traits. But in time, every executive reaches a point when their performance suffers and failure persists. Very few understand why or how to prevent it.
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