6 Secrets How to Boost Your Influence in the Office

Times are changing in the office. No longer is it acceptable that boss shouts orders, and everyone has run to action in fear of losing their jobs. Today, every member of staff can be an influencer in the workplace. And, you don’t have to be a tyrant to influence others. In the modern workplace, you can gain influence and power over others by gentler means.

Why Is Influence So Important?

Learning how to influence others in the right way can have a significant impact on the office environment. When you have a better understanding of yourself, you can influence others. You can then exert influence through excellent communication skills and assertive techniques, rather than fear and manipulation.

When people of authority force others to do things by shouting and pressuring them, the other person is choosing to do the task voluntarily. This may still get done—but not with the same energy and enthusiasm. People remember the negative way in which they have been treated. This memory stays with the person and only gets reinforced each time someone forces them into a task.

On the other hand, relationships that are built on mutual respect enable one person to influence the other to see their point of view. This person considers the advantages of performing the task and is willing to do it. They do this in the knowledge that they are making a positive contribution. In some cases, they go beyond their duties. However, forcing someone usually only encourages the bare minimum.

Influencing isn’t about changing the other person or how they behave. Being a positive influencer is all about changing our behaviour.

Let’s look at six things we can do to increase our influence positively.

6 Ways to Boost Your Influence in the Office

1. Learn how to listen more

Listen more to others in the office to boost your influence. Of course, it’s easy to assume that great influencers are great talkers—but research suggests otherwise.

A study carried out by Columbia University showed that people rated listeners as more influential than talkers. People that can listen to their colleagues gain vital information as well as creating more trust. That being said, to influence, you still need to be able to express yourself in the right way.

2. Lean on people’s emotions

If you want to influence others in the office, play on their emotions. Statistics may shock the listener, but they won’t necessarily create action. Even the most accurate statistics don’t have the same effect as the personal stories behind them.

For example, if you want to influence someone into donating to a charity, the number of starving children in the world will have less impact than an account of what has happened to a particular child.

3. Choose your vocabulary wisely

According to MIT, two of the most powerful words in the board room are “yeah” and “start”. Saying “yeah” shows that you agree with ideas and solutions that have already been discussed. Starting with “yeah” also makes it likely that others will also accept your concept. By changing aggressive words like “do this” to “start”, colleagues are more inclined to go along willingly.

4. Focus on your body language

Using the right body language is a powerful way to influence others. People can spot a fake smile a mile off—despite your best efforts at trying. Those who have more influence can genuinely smile when talking to colleagues. A fake smile doesn’t elicit trust. But a smile across your whole face shows people your real feelings.

To further instil trust, you need to make the right amount of eye contact. Not too little, but not so much that the other person becomes uncomfortable. Too much eye contact becomes aggressive behaviour and puts pressure on the other person.

5. Know when to apologize

The Brits are infamous for apologizing for everything. Excessive apologizing can undermine your influence. Saying you are sorry when you have done something wrong shows others that you are human and capable of making mistakes. Saying that you are sorry shows that you are concerned about others, and it helps to strengthen your relationships.

6. Praise others for their achievements

A compliment for a job well done is a huge motivator for anyone, and it will encourage people to keep working with due diligence. Positive feedback has been shown to improve excellent motor skills. With extra motivation and better skills, the performance of colleagues improves without any kind of negative influence.