5 Tips to Increase your Influence

So, When I meet an artist, and she tells me she is a singer, the first thing I want to do is hear her songs! When I meet a doctor, I instantly want her to tell me her craziest doc-patient stories; I want to know her schedule and manage her work-life balance. When I meet a person who tells me he is a CEO, I am intrigued with his decisions in a day; what're the financial numbers he is playing with. But as I always like this? No. I used to be interested in only one hobby, one instrument, one profession, that one thing I liked to do.

Studies say the quickest way to become an interesting and influencing person is to show interest in others.

Hello everyone, Welcome to my first article on 5 Tips to increase your influence.

Being an influencer means having power and influence over people. It is one of the Leadership Skills that we can develop. Influencing Skill is widely recognized as the most important indicator of Leadership Skill (Study done by the University of Florida, Leading by Influence). To influence is to impact the attitudes, opinions, behaviours, and choices of others. Influence is not to be confused with control. It’s about recognizing what motivates your commitment and using that knowledge to leverage your performance and have positive results. Let’s take a look at how leaders effectively build relationships and increase their influence on others.

I will share 5 strategies to hone your influence skills to position yourself for career advancement and leadership opportunities.

⛳️ First Tip: Take Genuine interest in People

Author Dale Carnegie says, "You can make more friends in two months by becoming interested in other people than you can in two years by trying to get interested in you. So if you have noticed, influencing people to have that charisma that everybody wants to talk to them, but why? It’s a straightforward trick; they make others feel VALUED and IMPORTANT; they take an honest interest in other people’s life. So how do we do this? The first step is to try to know people more, their hobbies, likes, dislikes, dreams, or what they are passionate about. By doing this, you will enjoy a great social experience; you will be amazed to see the diversity around you; Your knowledge of different subjects will also increase and don’t just limit yourself to knowing them; go beyond; see how you can help them selflessly; how you can support them in achieving their goals.

⛳️ Second Tip: Find your intention; influential people are incredibly focused and result-driven.

So, before you go for a meeting, an outing, think about it; what do you want from that event? Are you here to make friends, build a professional network, or just for entertainment? Finding your intention and setting your focus before you walk in the room will always get you right.

⛳️ Third Tip: Success Routine

The study says that confident people are most influential, but how do we feel more confident? Vanessa van Edwards, a founder of The Science of People, talks about this exciting thing, Success Routine. Success Routine is something that pumps your blood, that motivates you, and helps you to release those confidence hormones in your body. I learned this from one of the Global Leaders. Back in my Honda days, I was in Japan for some time, and we had this global HR conference; we were in the auditorium, I was sitting on the aisle seat, so one of the top management executives came and sat next to me, he was constantly watching his list of motivational videos on mutes and reading subtitles. I looked at him, and he smiled. I asked, all Ok. He said I am next on the stage. I wished him luck, and trust me; he was so incredible and charismatic on the stage. I think we all have stage fears, we all have been there, and we all have that moment where we need to bring all our nerves together to be confident. Success Routine is something all influencers follow; Influencers know how to up their confidence before they walk on the stage. So, I have two suggestions to pump your confidence before you go on that stage,

A) list of motivational videos, which release those confidence hormones or your list of favourite upbeat songs that get an adrenal rush in you, and you tell yourself, Yes, " you can do it."

B). Talk to those who have confidence in you. So I like to talk to a few of my people who are pep talkers. I go to them, talk to them, and they always boost confidence in me.

⛳️ Fourth Tip: Non-verbal Body Language

Our body has its own language, and all influencers have these things in common; they make eye contact, and they smile and send those warm vibes. They create a connection that is welcoming and supportive. Study shows that your body language could be more open, your posture aligned, shoulders stretched, arms moving, and you feel more confident.

⛳️ Fifth Tip: Don’t fall for Perfectionism

As Brené Brown says, “Perfectionism is self-destructive; because there’s no such thing as perfect. Perfection is an unattainable goal.” Last month, my friends and I were re-watching the Friends series, so I asked them whom they liked the most, Phoebe or Monica. So, for people who haven't seen Friends, Monica is the perfectionist. Her impeccable attention to detail and ambition to keep going is out of the world, and Phoebe is flakier, a little imperfect, makes mistakes open up to people, selfless and compassionate. Surprisingly, their answer is Phoebe. I am sure Rachel and Monica musty have their fan followings, but Imperfections bond you with people because people tend to connect with those they can relate to. When we accept that we all have flaws, we become more personable and well-rounded as an individual. It becomes easier to connect with others around you because people won't feel judged by you and you won't feel judged by them. According to a new study published in the Journal of Personality and Social, many people actually see you in a more positive light when you become more vulnerable.

You are more relatable when they know you are just like them, a Human.

So, Friends, these are the 5 Tips; which is going to increase your influence;

1. Genuine Interest,

2. Find your Intention before you walk in for any event,

3. Success Routine to boost your confidence,

4. Poise body language, smile, and send warm vibes, and

5. Don’t fall for Perfectionism.

I really hope these 5 tips serve you well, as they have served me as well as my clients. So, if you like this article, please like, and share it with your network. I am hoping to reach to those who need it the most.

Let me know in the comments which was your favourite and which you found most relevant 👇,

I am Anjuli Sharma, and I will see you next time.