POWER OF INFLUENCE

THE POWER OF INFLUENCE

An individual begins to develop his or her leadership abilities when he or she starts to influence others towards a particular direction. The reason why you take the lead when you influence others is basically because we are dealing with humans. Other things such as animals, money and properties can only be managed and controlled before you can generate value from them or multiply their usefulness but for humans, it is a different case totally.

We actually don’t manage people but lead them. There is a clear distinction between leading and managing. ‘To lead’ simply means to influence. It is to influence others towards the effective and efficient utilization of resources for the maximum productivity of the individual and ultimately the society. ‘To manage’ is to create a process of achieving certain objectives clearly set out through planning, organizing, controlling and directing of human resources.

These two concepts are both important in any setting but it is more considerable to lead because it is at this level that you begin to display relevance. Managing only thrives on the direction that leading has charted. What makes a leader is basically influence. It is influence that sets the stage for affluence.

WHAT IS INFLUENCE?

Influence is instilling new or positive values into others by first being a front-liner. It is seeing a problem or challenge and solving it without been told, coerced or forced. Influence is leading others by playing your role with a mission and precision. It is doing things in a different way.

An influential personality will always attract followers anytime, any day and anywhere. Living a life of influence is living a life of relevance. It is establishing a modus operandi that is new to the terrain that you find yourself.

If you can reorder a person’s or group of persons’ mindset, opinion, philosophy and value then you can be termed influential. Influence can either be used with a bad or good intention but the principles for attaining either of the two is the same everywhere (universal).

WHY INFLUENCE

Ø It is the key to effective leadership. Influence is the wheel or driving force behind effective leadership. Until you can change a man’s way of doing things you have not led. This can only happen when men sees a level of conviction in whatever the leader is demonstrating.

Ø It is pathway to a life of affluence. People are always willing to support a cause that they perceive has come to impact and transform them for good. They will naturally support such cause with their resources and the more the impact, the more the flow of resources towards it.

Ø It is a medium for solving challenges. The foresight nature of a visionary will always propel a reaction to any issue that should be solved. A leader will never be influential if he is not really solving a need because people are only seeking for those that can meet their needs and this can only be done by people of influence- men and women of worth, substance and value.

HOW TO BE A PERSON OF INFLUENCE

v Be visionary: Until you picture a better tomorrow for yourself and the environment around you, you will never be able to influence it for good. Your vision for a change is the catalyst that propels your action. The insight you sight gradually births a foresight. It helps you to stimulate transformation measures or steps that will enforce the picture that you have captured in your mind. You can never command influence without first having a vision to run with.

v Be passion-driven: if you are not full of passion then it will be difficult to take positive steps that will influence others. If nothing is moving you about the present state of others then there is little you will be able to do.  Your love for others will naturally make you uncomfortable when good welfare is lacking.

v Be impact-oriented: Influence is a function of impact while impact is generated as a result of consistent commitment to a life of learning. There is a level of depth that you must aspire to attain in your quest towards influence. Personal exploit in that area that you desire to lead others is anchored on the level of your depth. This drives your taste for relevant information, balanced networking, and effective communication, broaden perspective and unwavering commitment.

v Be a solution-provider: You can’t be influential if you are not creative. To be creative, in this context, means you are a problem-solver. There are numerous needs around begging for solutions every day. You should detect and fit into one. This will help you to live a life of influence. Men will naturally tilt towards a solution-provider irrespective of their background, colour, tribe or sex. The ability to show them the way, harness their potential and grant them insight into what they are limited to has given you the right to be heard. You talk less when you act more. People can’t doubt your capacity once they see the capability. It is the easiest way to display influence and this cuts across all spheres of life.

CAUTION SIGNS

    Pride: This evil vice that takes advantage of an individual’s poor perception of oneself has often led to the destruction of many great and promising leaders. It often manifest through:

·        Willful negligence to rules or wise counsels

·        Overrating of oneself (unfair comparisons)

·        Ignoring others contribution to development

      

     Jealousy/Envy: As a person of influence, you need to guard yourself against any form of envy or hatred against anyone piloting anything meaningful. What you sow you will certainly reap. Focus on your lane and don't cross to another man's path. We all have different missions on earth as assigned by God and only your dedication to it will bring about continued relevance as a man of influence.

Akindolani Oluwasegun Michael

Tweets: @segunakindolani