Influence is part of every
interaction. Anyone refusing to admit that it’s not a part of their life is
likely the one who is being influenced. In fact, influence is so powerful that
it has become a vital part of an increasing movement of personal awareness and
self-improvement curriculums designed to accelerate results across the spectrum
of business and personal relationships.
Your ability to persuade and
influence people to help you to achieve the things you want out of life is one of
the most important skills you can develop. Learning the fundamentals of
influence opens the pathways to greater personal power that leads to your
ability to attain more of the things you want faster and easier than ever before.
Your ability to influence can be a difference-maker between success and failure.
It can virtually guarantee your
progress and enable you to use all of your other skills and abilities at peak
performance levels. Learning how to influence people will earn you the respect
of those you interact with and has the potential to make you one of the most
sought after people in your community or business.
You either have influence or you
don’t. Rarely is there a middle ground on this. Having influence is the
difference between being powerful or being powerless. The good news is that
influence can be developed quite easily.
Most people are simply unaware that
almost every human interaction involves a complex process of persuasion and
influence. The unaware are, in most cases, the ones being influenced. So, it
only goes to reason that the best starting point for mastering the art of
influence is awareness.
Influence
through Awareness
Awareness is the key to unlocking
the power of most everything, especially when it comes to a better awareness of
how our actions (or inactions) are perceived by others. So, if awareness is the
key to unlocking the power of influence, how do we go about becoming more
aware?
We must begin by making conscious
efforts to watch ourselves through the critical eye of others. While this may
seem like a difficult task at first, it is quite easy to do if we’ll merely get
out of our own way long enough for the concept to take hold. We must begin by
removing our own personal biases and becoming more consciously aware of
everything, from our physical posture to the tone, inflection, and sincerity of
our own voice. One recommended way to do that is to write one word on a piece of paper (it can be anything really: “posture”,
“smile”, etc.) that serves as a reminder that’s linked to a behavior we wish to
change.
I have learned the power of
influence over the course of my life through both trial and a lot of error. I have very often wondered
why I was getting nowhere while others seemed to succeed with ease. It was only
after I discovered the concept of mastering the power of influence through
awareness that I began to understand that I was the one being influenced most
of the time. Lucky for me, I learned the basics of this powerful life-changing
concept in time to re-direct my own course in life. You can as well.
I have discovered that mastering
the power of influence is a rather simple process. That’s not to say, however,
that it is easy. In fact, as mentioned earlier, mastering the power of
influence takes a conscious effort to
understand the principles as we gradually begin to understand ourselves in the entirety of the process
of human interaction. Think of the major influences on your life that have shaped the kind of person you are today. It all
comes down to the kind of people you have associated with (and continue to
associate with) as well as the thoughts you chose to allow into your life.
“You have the power to set the tone
of your day through the choices you make
and the thoughts that dominate your
mind.” ~ Gary
Westfal
Your increasing awareness on how
others influence you goes a long way in determining whether or not it adds
value to the goals and objectives you have set for your life. There is no time
like the present to reassess the nature of your associations and the effect
they have on you through the lens of objectivity. Be honest with yourself on
how these associations are effecting you. How do they influence your thinking,
your goals, your habits and tendencies, your direction, your emotions,
opinions, and biases?
An honest assessment will likely
reveal that there are both good and not-so-good sources of influence in your
life at this very moment. Both will take you somewhere, but only one will take you where you desire to
go.
Everything
Matters
Attention to detail is essential if
we are to develop influence to any great extent. There are as many methods as
there are personality types to master the art of influence. I have discovered five powerful ways that have provided
the most significant results in the least amount of time. Apply these methods
to get started on mastering the art of influence in your own life, and watch
closely as your influence produces refreshing new results!
1. Create
Rapport through Mirroring
Mirroring is the subtle act of
matching other people’s body language. Most people have no idea when you do
this because they are focusing so intently on the content of their own message.
When we mirror the body language of others, we are reflecting the image and
sentiment they are projecting. Body language mirroring unwittingly disarms
people through the power of perception. Effective mirroring removes incongruencies
other people may perceive as threatening or conflicted. Mirroring creates what
is referred to as the “Chameleon Effect,” a study proving that we are drawn to
people who are most “like us”. This technique provides a familiar reflection of
the other person, thereby allowing both parties to be drawn closer together.
The closer someone perceives you to be, the more influence you have.
Mirroring is not limited to body
language. Mastering the art of influence and the concept of mirroring also
extends to a person’s speech patterns. Matching their pace, pitch, tone, and
volume—so long as the discussion remains relevant and beneficial—goes a long
way to foster effective influence.
2. Be
Convincing
The words of your message should
carry the power of your convictions. To do this, create a mental state where
you genuinely believe the information you convey. This works especially well if
you are sincere and have no ulterior motives aside from influencing someone to
do or believe something that is in their own best interest…as well as your own.
The absolute best way to be convincing and to form a genuine belief is through adequate
preparation and knowledge. If it is action
you wish someone to take, be prepared to demonstrate your in-depth knowledge
through a convincing narrative that is rooted in knowledge and wisdom.
3. Project
Authority
The title of this technique can
easily be misleading, for authority is not to be misconstrued with dominance or a know-it-all personality.
This aspect of influence goes hand-in-hand with the first point of being
convincing. People have an innate tendency to listen to those who seem
important or project authority. So dress and act sharp if you wish to influence
others. First impressions are lasting impressions.
4. Leverage
Yourself
Influence allows you to persuade
others by using leverage. Through leverage, you learn how to multiply yourself and get far more out
of the hours you put in rather than doing it all yourself. You leverage
yourself with the assistance and efforts of other people by getting them to
work with you in the accomplishment of your objectives that are in everyone’s best interest. In business
and in life, this is also known as leadership.
5. Bottom
Line – Be Genuine
Most people can see right through
insincerity like a crystal-clear window. Make this mistake and you’ll have
difficulty influencing anyone for
quite some time. Influence is not some game or trick we play to deceive. It is
a tool to be used to help others make what you feel is the best decision.
Your ability to persuade others
through influence is a personal power that will pay huge dividends. Master it
and watch the results take on a new life, yielding fruitful changes
that will, quite simply, convince you of the power of this amazingly simple philosophy.
Until next time...
- G -
"Influence is having the ability to enter another person's world to bring them into yours." ~ G. Westfal
-----------------------
If you'd like to receive a notification anytime I publish a new article (currently about once per month), opt-in at my website: garywestfal.com
Once there, scroll to the bottom of any page and provide your contact information. You'll then be subscribed and will receive a notification whenever I publish a new article or provide updates to my books or appearances.
If you like this post, please recommend it to others!
-----------------------
COMING SOON!
Your Ultimate Guide to
Setting and Achieving
Every Goal You Can Imagine
“Gary Westfal rolls-up everything I have learned in a 40-year military career about Strategic Action Planning in one book.”
Lieutenant General Bradley Heithold, USAF (retired)
-----------------------
"A powerful book that provides an interesting
cross-section of three different points of view for
the balance of body, mind, and spirit."
~ Amazon Reader Feedback
Get your copy of this insightful book
on Amazon.com TODAY!
-------------------------------------------------------------
Get your copy of Gary's best-selling novel
FEAR Is a Thief is on Amazon.com
and is NOW AVAILABLE on Audible.com too! This inspiring book is the first in a self-empowerment series that was written to help people get past fear using five fundamental truths as a basis for understanding and taking action for a better life.
Get your copy today at FEAR Is a Thief/Amazon.
and is NOW AVAILABLE on Audible.com too! This inspiring book is the first in a self-empowerment series that was written to help people get past fear using five fundamental truths as a basis for understanding and taking action for a better life.
Get your copy today at FEAR Is a Thief/Amazon.
Also be sure to check out: KEY HORIZON, the second novel in the G. Weston spy series. This thriller is receiving rave reviews across the spectrum and has captivated a new following of "spy-fi" readers.
