What Leaders Do-The Principle of Influence
By Rob Allen
Whether it is in holding someone accountable or shaping the mood of the office, leadership involves the activity of influencing. Leaders can come in a variety of styles and temperaments, but the core activity for all involves the principle of influence. Simply put, having an influence means having an effect on someone else. Influence involves at least three components.
The first is change. Leaders ask the tough questions about team members and one of those is “how does this individual need to evolve in order to be more successful?” Company outcomes cannot be achieved by individuals who are not growing and improving in their skills and professionalism. This is because companies need to change and evolve as well.
As a result, leaders constantly look for ways to improve the individuals under their care. Team member one may struggle with technical aspects. Team member two may be working too fast and their work has more mistakes than is best. The influential leader becomes aware of the individual make up of every team member and crafts a plan for their growth.
The second component is room temperature. Yep, leadership sets the mood of the room. Good leadership strives to create enthusiasm, energy, and activity. Unfortunately, poor leadership can also create despondency, lackluster attitudes and sleepiness. The influential leader checks their own mood and the door and determines how the day is going to go.
The third component is inspiration. Every team member is motivated by different ideas. Some want money. Some want appreciation. Others are looking to grow in responsibility. Whatever the need, the leader is challenged to inspire the team and its members are not only the goals of the company but in their individual ones as well. Reminding the individuals of what they can achieve for themselves, help move the company forward.
This idea of being an influencer can seem overwhelming. There are days when everyone just wants to show up, get the work done and head home. This can apply to the bosses as well. So the need is pressing for individuals to step up with a passion for the success of others and seem to be an effective leader by influencing even when it seems mundane.
The next three blogs will continue the theme of what leaders actually do. Head over to easytimeclock.com/media/blog and see what other goodies might be there to inspire you to be better at what you do.