The conversations we have in our professional lives have an immense influence on our careers. Whether we’re discussing current projects, future plans, or simply trying to make a good impression, there are countless strategies we can utilize to make sure our messages are heard and understood. It is essential for professionals to understand the power of influence and how to use it to their advantage.
In this blog post, we will discuss the different strategies that can be employed to effectively influence conversations with colleagues and make sure our voices are heard. We will explore ways to make our speaking points clear and concise, as well as how to ensure our ideas are taken seriously. We will also talk about how to use body language, tone of voice, and other tactics to maximize the impact of what we say. By the end of this post, you will understand the importance of influence strategies in the professional setting and be armed with the skills to present yourself and your ideas in an effective manner.
How to Influence Different Types of People – Leadership Training
Why is it important to develop influence strategies?
It’s crucial to develop influence strategies because they can boost your workplace productivity. You might be able to use them to negotiate contracts, get funding for projects, get the resources you need, and reduce project-related risks. It’s important to develop influence strategies that are effective in your particular work environment because one may work better than another with a particular group of people.
What is strategic influence?
Strategic influence is the method of convincing others to carry out tasks or behave in a particular way. It’s crucial for achieving success in the workplace because using influence often helps people achieve their goals more effectively. Depending on who they are trying to persuade, employees, team leaders, and managers may use a variety of strategic influence techniques.
10 influence strategies to try in the workplace
The following are 10 influence techniques you can use at work:
1. Tactical influence
Using tactical influence, you can convince people to carry out a particular task in the short term. This tactic entails securing short-term backing, and it may involve a number of techniques. For instance, you might assist someone in exchange for something. You can also win the support of a senior figure in your company, then use their endorsement to win the support of others.
John is attempting to persuade his staff to accept overtime hours to assist the business during a busy season. He gives his staff a free lunch and organizes a weekly get-together to thank them for their hard work. He informs his staff that there is the possibility of overtime during this meeting. A few team members consent to work more than the required 40 hours each week because they value the recognition.
2. Self-help-based influence
Self-help-based influence entails persuading others that paying attention to you will be beneficial to them. People who want to enhance their physical, emotional, or mental wellbeing frequently find this approach appealing. It could also work if you can demonstrate how a certain action will help someone advance professionally.
For illustration, Ellie is the team leader at a marketing company that is holding its annual 5K race fundraiser event. Ellies boss requests that she obtain registrations from at least 75% of her team members in order for the company to have a high employee turnout for the event. Ellie adopts the self-help-based influence strategy to meet her quota. She tells her staff that signing up is a great opportunity to get exercise and spend the day outside the office when she makes pitches to promote the 5K race.
3. Reverse influence
Reverse influence, also known as reverse psychology, is the practice of persuading people not to do something while simultaneously urging them to do it. You might, for instance, tell someone that you don’t believe a particular idea is feasible. In reality, you support the idea and want them to give it some thought, so telling them that you don’t think it’s possible might actually inspire them to try it.
Griffin, a team leader, is attempting to persuade a member of his team who pushes himself too hard to boost daily sales. He informs the team member that no one in the company has ever exceeded 100 sales in a single day, so he doesn’t believe it is possible for them to do so. The team member is encouraged by this to put forth more effort and try to meet the high sales quota.
4. Situational influence
Utilizing situational influence entails comparing your professional expertise to the knowledge and skills of the target audience. You can learn how much power you have over a group of people by using this process. It can also assist you in determining your position of relative authority within an organization and in getting ready for a presentation or meeting.
As an illustration, Emily is a pediatric oncologist with years of experience who has worked in several children’s hospitals. The rest of her team is made up of residents who have primarily treated elderly patients. Emily uses her experience as leverage to win her team’s trust and persuade them to implement the new treatment plan she suggests when the residents begin working with a pediatric patient.
5. Impact influence
Presenting an idea with impact involves making it memorable or compelling. People might be moved by the presenter’s passion and more likely to act as they please. People might also recall the concept and push for its adoption in the future.
Example: Gianna is a political figure whos running for office. She holds a public event in the neighborhood to introduce the launch of her campaign. She arranges activities for kids and their families to enjoy and hires local bands to perform. This noteworthy large-scale event serves to remind many local voters that she is a family-oriented candidate who deserves their support.
6. Logical influence
Utilizing logic to persuade someone to take a certain action involves using evidence and logic. This practice is often effective in more formal situations. Instead of relying solely on factual information, leaders who employ this tactic may combine it with other tactics to appeal to people’s emotions.
For instance, Brian is looking for additional funding to support a new software development project. He puts a lot of work into his presentation, including calculations that demonstrate that his department’s current budget is insufficient to support his proposals. Additionally, he has forecasts that show the potential revenue from new projects for the business. The chief financial officer is very receptive to this factual information when Brian presents it to him, and he approves the distribution of additional funds.
7. Empowerment influence
A leader can use empowerment influence to involve all of their team members in the decision-making process. This method can help workers feel valued and show them that their leadership is valued.
Example: A manager wants to redesign the staff’s break room. Because the room would be unavailable to them for about a month due to construction, some employees are hesitant about this change. By granting them some influence over the remodeling process, the manager persuades the staff to agree to this plan. The manager gives in to some of the staff’s requests, such as enlarging the area and putting in more storage lockers.
8. Bargaining influence
The process of formally negotiating a solution that is advantageous to all parties involved is called bargaining influence. Both parties are free to propose concessions and accept terms they both deem just. This strategy gives both parties equal influence in certain matters.
An employer is drafting a contract for a current employee to perform travel-related work, for instance. The employer requests that the employee travel for a year, but the worker is hesitant to accept such a lengthy commitment. The employee eventually intends to consent to this requirement if their acceptance is accompanied by a $10,000 bonus. Because the employee agrees to accept the lengthy work period, the employer is happy to offer the bonus.
9. Common vision influence
Common vision influence involves the idea of collectivism. This entails concentrating on how your suggestion can benefit the entire company, not just the people working there. This tactic frequently succeeds when used with long-standing businesses that have a supportive workplace culture.
Katie, a team leader, is attempting to persuade her team members to participate in the company’s optional end-of-year survey. Due to the survey’s length, which takes about 30 minutes to complete, many employees are unwilling to participate. Katie reminds staff that their responses can contribute to the success of the company as a whole because they can use the survey to suggest changes they want to see in the upcoming year.
10. Enforcement influence
Utilizing verbal or written reprimands to motivate others to take the desired action is known as enforcement influence. It entails giving constructive criticism while maintaining objectivity in order to urge an employee to change their behavior. When an employer needs to implement a new policy and assist staff in adjusting to new procedures, enforcement can be effective.
Example: Ryan is a team leader at a fish farm. He once permitted workers to listen to music while they worked, but later removed that benefit. After Ryan announces the change, Rachel starts listening to music a few hours later. She is reminded of the new policy as he approaches her. To increase productivity at work, he also requests that she remind her coworkers of the new policy.
FAQ
What are the three influence strategies?
Description of Baker’s Four Strategies of Influence There are four ways to persuade people according to Baker’s Four Strategies of Influence. As a result, the person who employs a particular tactic adopts one of four personas: Investigator, Calculator, Motivator, or Collaborator.
How do you develop an influencing strategy?
We’ve discovered that influencing strategies can be divided into three groups: cooperative, emotional, or logical appeals.
