This article is in response to a piece entitled How to Increase Your Influence at Work by Rebecca Knight in the Harvard Business Review. You can find that article here: https://hbr.org/2018/02/how-to-increase-your-influence-at-work
This article struck me so fully that I read it twice. Then I read it twice more! Rare for me, as, remember, I rush through most things.
But the “meat” of the 4th paragraph grabbed me. It spoke of the need to focus. It validated the difficulties we all share in being fidgety, unfocused, undisciplined, with two much to do, glued to our cell phones, and running around with an incessant to-do list in our heads.
That struck a chord. In fact, it rang a bell.
Then the fifth paragraph went on to describe what I have been working on with my therapist, who tells me to SLOW DOWN, to face someone when I speak, to make eye contact, to soften my belly, soften my eyes, and to pull my shoulders back and stand up straight.
This mere adjustment does wonders for instilling confidence in me, and confidence in the person to whom I am speaking. I was pleased as punch to see that the author of this article says pretty much the same. (Do they know each other?)
The article states something quite unexpected: standing tall and focusing on the person to whom I am speaking makes me not only confident but makes them feel heard. And one of the biggest workplace resentments is people feeling disrespected and that their voices aren’t being heard.
The author suggests three things to let the person to whom you are speaking know if you are friend instead of foe:
1. Keep your arms uncrossed
2. Keep your hands by your side (I gesticulate WAY too much sometimes)
3. Keep your torso open and pointed at the other person (Heart chakra, don’t you know?)
Furthermore, it is important, to have people listen to you, to be seen as a “recognized expert” within your industry or organization. The author suggests immersing yourself in the topic area by regularly attending conferences, enrolling in classes, or continuing education programs, or taking on leadership roles in relevant professional organizations. This lets people know, without flashy advertising, that you are staying up- to date and informed.
And here is a suggestion I struggle with and have struggled with for years: mapping a plan to organize my strategy and my time. I’m a great beginner with this kind of thing, and a rotten finisher most of the time. However, were I to follow my own advice, here is what I would do:
1. Create an org chart of decision makers related to the issue at hand
2. Ask myself, “Can I influence this person directly?”
3. If not, whom can I influence who can influence that person?
4. Then “war-game” the entire situation, suggests the author. Who might be threatened by my plans, and how can I bring them over to my side?
And this is good: I’m not scheming; I’m strategizing!
Above all else, people like me. I’m gregarious, and affable and funny, I am told. I’m a good listener. These are the qualities that help me influence others and which increase my influence in the workplace.
Maybe I should coach others?
OH, THAT’S RIGHT! I ALREADY DO!!!: 😊