How can you communicate effectively with people who have greater influence than you?

My top tip: think about what they may need, and give it to them. Make introductions, share tools and websites, give them a recommendation, share ideas that they could implement, etc. Give without expecting to receive. Your purpose should be to help them. Be authentic in your engagements and eventually, you may become good friends.

To increase the likelihood of receiving responses from influencers, individuals should follow these steps: Polite Greetings: Begin with a courteous salutation, avoiding overly informal language. Brief Introduction: Provide a concise self-introduction, giving context to the influencer about who you are. Explain the Purpose: Clearly state the reason for seeking assistance or advice, ensuring the influencer understands the need. Relevance: Ensure the question aligns with the influencer's area of expertise to maximize the chances of a meaningful response.

The key aspect of communicating with individuals who have greater influence is based on following points - 1. Clear Goal : Before you talk to individuals, know exactly what you want. set a clear goal for reaching out. 2. Values Check : Understand the persons values, ethics & their past work in the domain. Make sure your values/ethics, goals & expectations are in sync with their values & ethics. 3. Alignment : Align your message with what they care about. It shows you respect their priorities and helps you get good results from the talk.

Figure out your purpose to approach them and learn about their background and values before starting a conversation. Give a formal greeting via a suitable chanel. Express your interest to their work and admiration to their influence. Listen to carefully what they say and confidently make questions and give opinions.

Communicate your ideas clearly. Plant the seed(s) of knowledge and watch them grow. Remember what the end goal is - to do better for the planet, the world, our fellow humans. With that in mind, we should not be seeking to have a large social media following. We should be trying to share our message with people from all walks of life; never know who it may resonate with...slow and steady wins the race. Trying to spread like wildfire will only end up with your message being smothered by the next wildfire thing.

Before emailing an influencer for more in-depth knowledge, it's important to research their existing content. For example, if they've covered a topic like CV creation in public content, ensure you've explored it thoroughly. Then, in your email, acknowledge your research and specify what additional information or clarification you're seeking. This demonstrates your commitment to learning and respect for their expertise.

To communicate effectively with people of greater influence, focus on active listening, sincerely interested parties, and what is relevant to them. You should be brief, clear, and precise, and demonstrate confidence and respect in your ideas. But If you want to build a positive and impactful relationship with them, you have to find common ground, and by focusing on shared goals, you can increase your ability to reach out and collaborate successfully.

When reaching out to someone of greater influence, it is important to ensure that your message is not only aligned with their interests but also demonstrates your unique perspective or expertise, highlighting how your collaboration could be mutually beneficial and rewarding.

Here's how to approach this: - Research Their Background: Look into their professional history, including their career milestones, industries they've worked in, and any published work. This gives you a sense of their journey and achievements. - Tailor Your Message: Use the information gathered to tailor your communication. Show how your message or proposal aligns with their interests and values. Make it clear that you've done your homework and are not reaching out blindly. - Avoid Pitfalls and Misunderstandings: Being informed about their background and preferences helps in avoiding topics or approaches that might be unwelcome or irrelevant. It shows respect for their time and position.

Before talking to these individuals, do your homework! Learn about their background, achievements and what matters to them. This helps you align with their interests during conversations and you feel confident while you are completely aware of what has to be spoken. Making notes will help you get a understanding and help generate ideas on what approach should go in during the conversation. Research is the the key to effective communication with any important individuals.

It is very important to choose the right channel while reaching out to these big influencers/individuals - 1. Purpose matters while approaching. Choose based on your goal, message and most importantly your relation with that person. 2. Identify if you need to be Formal or Informal. For formal requests, email is the best way to approach. In case of informal approach social media platform like WhatsApp or Instagram can be used. For detailed and complex discussion in formal way; meetings through tools like zoom, Cisco webex, google meet can be scheduled.

It's important to choose the right channel, here are some guidelines: 1. Understand their preferences: Some prefer email, while others prefer phone calls or face-to-face meetings. 2. Prioritize personal interactions: opt for face-to-face or video meetings. These channels allow for non-verbal cues and build stronger connections. 3. Use professional and concise language: When communicating through written channels like email or messaging, use professional language and keep your messages concise. 4. Be respectful and considerate: Respect their time and commitments. If you need to schedule a meeting or call, provide options that accommodate their availability.

Select the most appropriate communication channel based on the person's preferences and availability. This could be in-person meetings, phone calls, emails, or even social media platforms.

Agreed - that and don't be false-modest or beat around the bush. Don;'t message "can I ask you a question?" just ask your question.

Being confident is key when communicating to influential persons.Show respect by being prepared, understanding their perspective and being open to listening to understand.Also, anticipate the feedback they will give and build up on responding appropriately.

This is excellent advice, and I can only add you should never fear giving your two cents if you think it could benefit one with more influence, they most likely will be grateful.

Remember that everyone is human. No one is better than anyone, and when you treat everyone equally it’s easy to approach someone with influence with kindness, admiration, and respect. People with power appreciate being treated normal and having real conversations. Know that you’re valuable because you have a unique experience and they want your perspective they want people on the ground doing the work to help them make smart informed choices. Own your area of expertise and walk the course.

Always acknowledge the other individuals expertise and experience in the domain. This helps you to understand and learn a lot of things, while being confident enough to share your thoughts & ask questions confidently to ensure you get clarity and learn new things. Always be honest and accept if you do not know things and try to learn and understand them. Finding the right balance between learning from the individuals and confidently putting your points/suggestions is crucial while dealing with any individuals.

Show respect for the person's position and expertise while maintaining your own confidence. Be aware of your body language, tone of voice, and choice of words to convey professionalism and credibility.

One of the most effective ways to communicate with people who have greater influence than you is to listen first, before asking for what you need or sharing your goals. In social impact work, and especially fundraising, I've found that the best results come from asking a lot of deeper questions (What is your vision? What is the most important thing you believe we should be doing to tackle this social problem? Why are you in this work, personally?) - then truly listening to the answers before sharing how your own vision, goals, or projects can align with their interests for mutual impact.

Successful social impact communicators excel at being active listeners. Especially when your audience is people who have greater influence, taking a step back to hear and process the priorities, passions and perspectives of your audience can help your communications go the extra mile. The ability to personalize your communications so that they address concerns, opportunities and synergies will not go unnoticed. All people have passion areas - if you can ask questions to understand a passion area and show genuine curiosity about what you learn that can also make your communications more impactful.

Here’s how to enhance your listening skills in such interactions: - Pay Full Attention: Give them your undivided attention. This means avoiding distractions, not interrupting, and focusing entirely on what they are saying. Non-verbal cues like nodding and maintaining eye contact are important. - Ask Insightful Questions: Asking questions not only shows that you are engaged but also helps you gain deeper understanding. Frame questions that encourage them to share their insights and experiences. - Show Genuine Interest: Display curiosity about their perspectives and experiences. This can be conveyed through your body language and the questions you ask.

Actively listen to what the person has to say and be open to their ideas and perspectives. Seek to understand their viewpoints and ask thoughtful questions. This will demonstrate your willingness to learn and collaborate.

Doh! If you aren't willing to listen and learn then why are you approaching an influencer in the first place? This sounds like a way to avoid the "what can I get from them approach " which isn't one to be adopting anyway. IN my not-so-humble opinon

Remember that people with great influence tend to be busy. They can easily forget about your ask – not because they don't care, but simply because it's not in their top priorities (which is fair – it's you who needs their help, not vice versa). So make sure you pop yourself back up on their agenda by timely reminders. Don't be overly intrusive, but reminding about yourself every few days, or on dates agreed, is perfectly fine and actually does them a favour.

After the initial communication, send a follow-up message to express gratitude and summarize key points discussed. If there are any action items or commitments made, ensure you follow through on them promptly and effectively.

Following up and following through are crucial for effective communication. Here are some tips: 1. Take notes during the conversation: Actively listen and take notes during your interaction with influential individuals. This will help you remember important details and demonstrate your attentiveness. 2. Recap the conversation: After the conversation, send a follow-up email or message summarizing the key points discussed. This shows that you value their time and ensures that everyone is on the same page. 3. Address action items promptly: If there were any action items or tasks assigned during the conversation, make sure to complete them promptly. This demonstrates your reliability and commitment to following through on your commitments.

Following up with any individual for any of the tasks or events is very very crucial skillsets that many people lack in, if you don't hear back or get a revert from them right away, it about persistence and patience, not your ego. keeping your ego away will help, it'll pay off. During followups set clear timelines to ensure the expected outcomes are met by both the parties. Keep the individuals in loop always to ensure they are updated with the the work which helps them suggest corrections if needed in the task. Keep in touch some or the other way so that you don't have to reinvent the complete relation cycle again.

- Be proactive in seeking feedback: Request feedback on your performance or any areas for improvement. This shows your willingness to learn and grow, and it also helps you align your communication style with their expectations. - Respect their time and boundaries: When following up, be mindful of their busy schedules and avoid excessive or unnecessary communication. Be concise and respectful in your messages, focusing on the essential information. - Maintain professionalism: Throughout your communication, maintain a professional tone and demeanor. Be polite, respectful, and considerate of their position and expertise.