3 Ways to Be More Influential at Work

What do all successful people have in common? They have the ability to influence those around them. To bring more success into your life, gaining greater influence is key. With the power of influence, your voice is more likely to be heard, your ideas are more likely to be implemented, and you’ll naturally become more respected.

To become more influential in the workplace, there are many things you can do. Here are three of my top tips to get you started:

Be a part of the team

Being personable is a good idea, especially when you’re trying to build influence at work. This is especially important when you’re in a leadership role. If you separate yourself, or try to build your perceived authority by appearing distant, it might alienate you and put you in a position where you’re viewed with distrust or even resentment.

Try reaching out to team members. You don’t have to be best friends, but there’s no reason you can’t get to know each other a bit.   Personal working relationships are important for many reasons, but in this case, they make others more receptive when you disclose your ideas or opinions. The key here is to be approachable and human.

Listen, then talk

Influence is a two-way street. The more you believe in the people around you and incorporate their ideas into your vision, the more they’ll believe in your ideas and incorporate them into their work habits. If you want to build up this kind of relationship with your co-workers and employees, you first have to listen. You can be strong, yet flexible. You don’t have to give into every counterargument, but you do need to be flexible enough to let go of ideas when better ones come along.

Once you’ve listened with an open mind and are ready to give your input, present your ideas clearly and concisely with confidence. However, be mindful of how you’re coming off to others – overconfidence or certain tones of voice could be seen as narcissistic.

Take action, consistently

Inconsistency is the fastest way to ruin your reputation. Consistency, on the other hand, is slow but sure–if you execute your tasks effectively and on time, day after day, eventually people will come to rely on you. Consistent action tells others you can be depended on to follow through with your plans and, as you show consistent hard work and results, more people will begin to rely on and trust you. It is that trust that will get others to believe in your ideas and abilities, which is key to gaining greater influence.

Bottom Line

If you’re looking to gain more influence in your professional life, start with these tips and master them while continuously growing your most important skillsets. Once you’ve mastered these, seek out more ways to gain even more influence in the workplace.