How high is your influence quotient? And what do I mean by that?
Your influence quotient is not your capacity to manipulate and to take advantage of others in order to get what you want… Rather, it is your ability to know how to work with and through others to achieve a stated objective while staying true to your core values and maintaining your integrity.
Without the ability to influence, we can’t make impact. From the kitchen to the boardroom, we are powerless to make things happen, unless we have certain key factors in place.
Here are the first three steps to building your influence quotient. Rate yourself on a scale from 1-5 (5 being highest):
- Live by integrity. How steady, how consistent are you in the way you work and play with others? Do people say they can count on you?
- Build trust through experience. How well do you build rapport with people so that they come to know you and can trust how you will handle relationships and challenges? Do people say they trust you?
- Listening for win-win outcomes. Are you able to fully listen to the needs and concerns of others so that when it comes to tough decisions, you keep the “win-win” solution in mind? Do people say they know you have their best interests in mind?
What do you need to change? And if you aren’t sure, how can you find out?
One professional’s bold move? He asked! One of my clients polled his mentor and two corporate colleagues. The results? “I was actually pleasantly surprised,” he shared. “I rated high in integrity and building trust. A growth area for me appears to showing others I am listening for win-win outcomes through my choice of words and messaging. This exercise was invaluable!”
The result? We identified areas where he could better match and pace his tenor and the way in which he presented certain ideas. Within a few weeks, he started to get some great feedback – and he was on the right track!
What about you? Where do you see opportunities to bolster your influence quotient?
To Your Success!
*I look forward to reading your comments.
Patti Cotton reenergizes talented leaders and their teams to achieve fulfillment and extraordinary results. For more information on how Patti Cotton can help you and your organization, click here.
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