Influencing skills

What is influence?

To have influence on people or situations means to affect what they do or what happens. Often we see influence as having the power to make other people agree with your opinions or to do what you want them to. Therefore we see those who can influence as those who are in more senior or 'powerful' positions to us.

To be able to influence others you need to build a rapport with others and share some mutual respect for one another. Sometimes it's about changing how people perceive you. We influence how we like to be influenced!

What skills do you need to be able to influence others?

Clear communication - use the right words and phrases.
Actively listening to others and making them feel that their opinions are validated.
Empathy.
Assertiveness.
Be curious-Ask relevant questions.
Self awareness.
Confident.
Self-regulation.

BRAIN - Influencing model

Bridging - Reaching out through your working relationships, building a connection and partnership, listening and asking their opinions.
Rationalising - Share information and facts, apply logic to your opinions.
Asserting - Be confident in what you believe in, prepare and know exactly what you believe in and why. Share those expectations.
Inspiring - Have a vision and use your communication skills to share and move forward together. Use stories or metaphors to back up what you are saying.
Negotiating - Seek a compromise to create that win:win scenario. Give something to get something and accept that you may not get everything that you want or need. Know what you are willing to compromise on.