5 Ways to Increase Your Influence

The ability to influence is one of the essential skills for leaders at all levels. It’s more art than science, and it can be tough to get your arms around.  But the bottom line is that influence matters. Within every industry there are thought leaders who are powerful people with opportunities and leverage both within their industry and outside of it. They are usually said to be influential. Although it’s a long road to this level of authority, you should constantly strive to achieve thought leadership because of the many benefits. Here are five steps to take in your pursuit of influence:

Find existing thought leaders in your field.

Who has paved this road before you? Find out who the admired trendsetters are within your industry. Pay close attention to the people you find in whatever way you can: Follow them on social media, tune in to their podcasts and do research on their history and career. Look for strengths you share with them and be aware of areas in which they outdo you. What kind of comments and insights are they providing? Use their achievements as a benchmark for you to reach and surpass, but also learn from their mistakes and weaknesses.

Narrow your focus.

Your field has multiple niches. Find out exactly where you fit. What are your strengths and accolades? What do your colleagues find impressive about your work? Thoroughly understanding your expertise and what you still need to learn is a strength in itself. You want to be an expert? Stop being general. Hone in on the area where your passion and your talent intersect and run with it.

Network aggressively.

Between conferences and the internet, there are so many opportunities to connect with thought leaders, industry peers and up-and-comers. Networking is often touted as a way to advance your career and land you a job. But networking is an important part of becoming a thought leader due to sheer numbers. As your network expands, your influence expands. Hunt down in-person networking events where you can meet people face to face, which increases your likelihood of being remembered. Follow up by connecting via social media channels and finding other meaningful ways to interact. Engaging with other professionals in your field will help you get noticed and generate more attention for your industry insight.

Self-publish.

Self-published articles will increase your credibility and provide you with a portfolio of thought leadership pieces. A robust blog can also increase your likelihood of being accepted as a guest poster and subsequently extend your reach. Once you have established a solid portfolio of self-published articles, you will have something to reference when pitching yourself to other outlets.

The benefits of thought leadership are obvious. It’s the road to getting there that can be daunting. Watch existing thought leaders, hone in on your expertise, network, self-publish and guest post, and you’ll eventually find yourself among the ranks of these highly respected influencers.

Practice.

Begin with small steps, that is low-stakes situations where you can test out your new influencing approaches. Target a person or situation where you would like to achieve a certain outcome, think through the influencing style that will work best in that situation, and give it a try.  Whether you are leading, following, and/or collaborating, chances are you need to influence others to be successful. Influence strategies can range from reliance on position to education, encouragement and collaboration.  The key is knowing which approach to use in a given situation.