Our decisions are often influenced by others, but what does it really take to be influential?
A step by step guide on how to be influential—in politics, education, entertainment or civil service is the key to unlocking the gift of instilling your values, beliefs and ideas into the livelihoods of young and old individuals in the society.
To influence others into buying your ideas, to move crowds or even to be the most decorated speaker, preacher or entertainer of all time requires a bit of a skill.
Even though we are all unique in our own ways, most influential people have certain outstanding attributes that make people want to be like them.
Every course of action we take, every idea we subscribe to often influenced by our consciously or unconsciously held beliefs as well as the people we look up to.
To be influential and move people is a special gift that not all of us can have. A few ways on how you can establish your influence include;
Be Authentic
Trusts emanates from being real. To be an influential personality in your field, you are going to have to be as authentic as possible. Authenticity gains you trust. Don’t try to be something you are not or in hindsight to fake it till you make it, faith it until you make it—Learn ways of becoming that something you are not.
In a world of too much fakery, forgery, pretense and falsehood, people are more likely to fall in love with an authentic person.
Show Empathy
Like David Goggin said “Show people, don’t tell people”. Whether you are an artist, politician or an educator, showing empathy is the greatest connection you will ever build with your followers. Empathy puts you in the same class as your followers.To be influential, you need to show empathy and not sympathy.
Be a Good Listener
Being influential requires you say less and listen more. By being a good listener, you portray yourself as a confident person. Confidence is a barrier breaker between you and your audience. You can easily influence people when you are confident and they have confidence in you.
Be a Good Story teller
A good story teller establishes his/her command as opposed to one who fumbles from one story to another. Being a good story teller just as a good listener portrays confidence. Most influential people are good story tellers.
Master your Field
Become a ‘professor’ of your own field. In order to be influential, show mastery in what you do. A politician who has mastered the art of politicking will be more influential just as a model who has mastered the art of modelling.
By being a master of your own field, you become the true embodiment of that particular art and it eventually earns you a following.
For almost entire existence of the human species, influence has existed with us—we tend to copy the behavior of the majority because we believe that`s what is right.
Institutions, teachers, parents and workplaces over time influence our behaviors and beliefs by moralizing, slogans, rules and symbols.
