What are some of the best practices for influencing decision-makers in your organization?

Being open and show a genuine humility and vulnerability, are key to create a climate of empathy where both parts are open to share information; Be prepare to a conversation, known the others is very important, taking into account aspects such as communication style, background, culture and personality traits, etc..

Influencing decision-makers involves understanding their perspective, building relationships, and providing value. Get to know their goals and challenges while investing time in genuine connections. Tailor your pitch to align with their priorities, using clear, concise language and real-life examples to illustrate your point. Timing matters, so present ideas when they're most receptive, addressing concerns and objections proactively. Collaborate with others, adapt your approach based on feedback, and follow up respectfully to demonstrate dedication. Ultimately, it's about contributing meaningfully to the organization's success by earning trust and demonstrating alignment with their objectives.

One thing I found helpful is being honest, and share your experiences to make a real needed connection with that person. It's more than a vision when you can feel it.

To positively influence decision-makers in an organization, it's crucial to understand your audience, communicate clearly and concisely, demonstrate added value, build strong relationships, present evidence and data, engage stakeholders, be prepared for questions and challenges, adapt to communication preferences, be flexible, emphasize urgency when necessary, establish strategic alliances, maintain a positive and constructive attitude, demonstrate knowledge and competence, seize presentation opportunities, and learn from past experiences.

Influencing decision-makers involves understanding their priorities, framing proposals in alignment with organizational goals, and presenting well-researched data. Effective communication, tailored to decision-makers' preferences, enhances impact. Building relationships through collaboration and demonstrating the potential positive outcomes of proposed actions fosters trust. Consistent delivery of high-quality work reinforces credibility. Lastly, being adaptable and responsive to feedback ensures a collaborative approach. By combining strategic communication and a deep understanding of organizational priorities, one can effectively influence decision-makers in the organization.

A track record of honesty will make your ideas or opinions easily considered, strive to build trust by diligently attending to duties, making valuable contributions during team work or individual projects

When someone of an esteemed position asks for my insight, I make sure to be engaged with my curiosity and transparent with comments. Ultimately, they make the final decision and you should want them to be challenged with the possible adverse sides ahead of making choice. It’s important that you’re not just a trusted assistant but a willing participant. Long term, it’ll make them come back for more brainstorming.

An example of building rapport and trust is spending time in person, and in action making those changes or differences, so you become the action you speak about. That will not only give a visual but a hands on experience that becomes easier to understand and way more effective.

Show sincere personal interest - listen closely, acknowledge contributions, find common ground. Show you're a reliable partner but also demonstrate expertise and credibility. Come prepared with data-driven insights, creative solutions, and a clear point of view. Present ideas confidently, yet stay flexible. Blend relational savvy with professional credibility to be a trusted advisor. Influencing is about cultivating meaningful connections and establishing yourself as indispensable. It takes patience, empathy, and a results mindset to navigate dynamics. Strike the right balance between building rapport and delivering results, and you'll get even skeptical leaders on board, no matter the stakes. It's the delicate dance between heart and head.

Building strong relationships based on trust and rapport is essential for gaining influence. Take the time to establish a personal connection with decision-makers by actively listening to their ideas, showing genuine interest in their opinions, and being respectful.

The way you communicate is as important as the content of your message. After all, you need your audience's buy-in. When aiming to communicate for influence, be clear about the point you're trying to make. Keep in mind that your manager and other stakeholders don't have time for vague ideas or conjecture. Even if you're sharing an opinion, make sure it's supported by facts; otherwise, it nothing by office gossip. Don't hesitate to practice your key points beforehand. While you won't be reading from a script, it's crucial to ensure your explanation is to the point. Practice articulating your words clearly—even if you're a native speaker—and proposing well-thought-out solutions. And don't forget the power of storytelling!

Expressing your opinions and ideas on clear communication can help influence the decision making process, the tone of the message sometimes matters more than the content, be respectful and not forceful.

Strategic goal and value alignment is necessary to become an expert influencer within your organization. Comprehend the objectives and priorities of significant stakeholders, and then tailor your proposals to align with their goals. A strong story is produced, in my opinion, by highlighting common values and illustrating how your projects relate to the larger objectives of the company. Highlight the possible benefits for both immediate goals and long-term goals. Establishing a link between your recommendations and the values that decision-makers hold dear helps to strengthen their persuasiveness and promote a collaborative culture where decisions are made with a shared commitment to organizational success.

Focus on the "Why". Don't just present the "what" of your idea, clearly articulate the "why" - how it aligns with the company's goals, save money or improve efficiency. Speak in terms of the decision-maker's priorities

The one thing everyone has always said to me is that I give off such a positive energy, and they feel comfortable with me to speak on any subject. Something very important is to always be yourself, because when you try to be someone your not it cuts the connection between you and the other person. What you see is what you get, so don't try to put up a fake front.

Tailor your language. (At this point, your fellow assistants may be of great help). You need to adjust your communications style to match the decision-maker's preferences. Some prefer a formal approach with data and reports while others might respond better to a more conversational style highlighting the big picture.

Authenticity works every time Back up what you say, suggest and can offer with real tangible results combined with not being afraid of voicing your concerns at meetings. Once you can add value and show an ROI to what you can do, the influencing part of this question becomes easier and more natural. NETWORK LEARN GROW

We can only influence someone if we build trust by showing what value we have brought to the organisation already. EA's in 2024, we need to amplify our influence! How? Get behind and learn the organization's vision, build authentic relationships internally, and create your data-driven insights, to show the value you have. Communicate well, present solutions, and flex your emotional intelligence. Confidence and assertiveness are also key, together with great support and consistent value demonstration. We should all be embracing continuous learning and adaptability to move forward in this role.