How can you build influence with your peers and superiors?

1 Know your audience

The first step to building influence is to understand who you are trying to influence and what they care about. What are their goals, challenges, preferences, and values? How do they communicate and make decisions? What are their expectations and feedback for you? By knowing your audience, you can tailor your message, style, and approach to suit their needs and preferences. You can also avoid potential conflicts, misunderstandings, or resistance by addressing their concerns and interests.

2 Build trust and rapport

The second step to building influence is to establish trust and rapport with your peers and superiors. Trust is the foundation of any successful relationship, and it is earned by being consistent, reliable, honest, and respectful. Rapport is the connection and harmony that you create with others by showing interest, empathy, and appreciation. By building trust and rapport, you can foster a positive and collaborative atmosphere, where people are more willing to listen to you, support you, and follow your lead.

3 Demonstrate value and expertise

The third step to building influence is to demonstrate your value and expertise to your peers and superiors. Value is the benefit that you provide to others, such as solving a problem, improving a process, or achieving a result. Expertise is the knowledge and skills that you have in your field, such as technical, professional, or industry-specific. By demonstrating your value and expertise, you can show your competence, credibility, and confidence as an influential person. You can also share your insights, ideas, and feedback to help others grow and learn.

4 Communicate effectively

The fourth step to building influence is to communicate effectively with your peers and superiors. Communication is the key to conveying your message, expressing your opinions, and persuading others to take action. To communicate effectively, you need to use clear, concise, and respectful language, as well as appropriate tone, body language, and gestures. You also need to listen actively, ask open-ended questions, and acknowledge different perspectives. By communicating effectively, you can build rapport, understanding, and agreement with your peers and superiors.

5 Collaborate and cooperate

The fifth step to building influence is to collaborate and cooperate with your peers and superiors. Collaboration is the act of working together towards a shared goal, while cooperation is the act of supporting and helping each other. By collaborating and cooperating, you can leverage the strengths, skills, and resources of others, as well as create synergy, innovation, and efficiency. You can also build trust, rapport, and respect by showing your willingness to contribute, compromise, and celebrate with your peers and superiors.

6 Lead by example

The sixth and final step to building influence is to lead by example with your peers and superiors. Leading by example is the act of modeling the behaviors, attitudes, and values that you want others to follow. By leading by example, you can inspire, motivate, and empower others to achieve their potential, as well as demonstrate your integrity, accountability, and commitment as an influential person. You can also set high standards, provide feedback, and recognize achievements with your peers and superiors.

7 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?