One of the best ways to learn more about how to become an effective influencer is to study other people. Get curious and regularly ask yourself the question, why do people do what other people want them to do? To be successful, you have to be capable of getting other people to do things that they would not otherwise have done. You have to create change. So look closely at what moves them to change.
The potential list of reasons why people will do something is almost endless. Examples include because they are persuaded by logic, they selfishly see their own gain or maybe they simply want to please an attractive individual. This study will increase your potential and you will also start to notice specific things which move some of your targets and can adapt your approach accordingly.
Take action on this secret…
- Identify several people close to you at work.
- Notice who they tend to favour when being asked to do something different.
- Develop a theory of why each is influenced.
- If you can, ask them why they do what they do? What is it about the person asking which motivates them to act differently?
- Reflect on your normal approach to influencing. How can you modify your approach to become more successful at influencing specific people?
- List three things to try to do differently and test these out.
And remember, tuning in to what influences other people can become a fascinating study in its own right, and will definitely help you to become a more flexible influencer!
