Influence is the ability to persuade others to act or think in a certain way. It is a key skill for interpersonal communication, leadership, and collaboration. But how do you measure your influence? How do you know if you are making an impact or not? In this article, we will explore some ways to assess your influence and improve it over time.
Before you can measure your influence, you need to have a clear idea of what you want to achieve. What are your objectives, values, and vision? Who are your target audience, stakeholders, and allies? How do you align your goals with theirs? By defining your goals, you can focus your efforts and track your progress.
It's important to consider who you want to work with - you work better when you are inspired, engaged and aligned with your stakeholders.
Next, you need to decide how to measure your influence. There are different types of metrics that you can use, depending on your goals and context. For example, you can use quantitative metrics, such as the number of followers, likes, shares, comments, or conversions that you generate. You can also use qualitative metrics, such as the feedback, testimonials, referrals, or endorsements that you receive. You can also use behavioral metrics, such as the actions, changes, or outcomes that you influence.
A future focus can assist you here. Who are we intending to influence in the next year, five years, fifty years? How will we know we are succeeding in building and sustaining those influences? How are we planning to take care of influencers - and listen to them as we build and scale?
Once you have chosen your metrics, you need to collect your data. You can use various tools and methods to gather and analyze your data, depending on your sources and channels. For example, you can use surveys, polls, interviews, or focus groups to get feedback from your audience. You can also use analytics, reports, dashboards, or scorecards to monitor your performance and impact. You can also use observation, experimentation, or testing to evaluate your results and effectiveness.
Get clear who will set up, manage, moitor and report to key people on all of the data. Feedback should influence your own product and service development - when the audience matters what the audience wants matters too. Are you willing to change in response to the emerging data?
After you have collected your data, you need to compare your results. You can use different criteria and benchmarks to compare your results, depending on your goals and context. For example, you can compare your results with your expectations, objectives, or targets. You can also compare your results with your previous results, peers, or competitors. You can also compare your results with your best practices, standards, or trends.
Pay attention to what is changing in your context; in the context of your stakeholders; and in what your stakeholders and key infleuncers are saying. Is there emerging data which will stimulate an innovation in your offering?
Finally, you need to learn from your feedback. You can use different strategies and techniques to learn from your feedback, depending on your goals and context. For example, you can use reflection, evaluation, or review to identify your strengths and weaknesses. You can also use feedback loops, coaching, or mentoring to get advice and support. You can also use action plans, goals, or habits to improve your skills and behaviors.
Always connected to your living values and vision - what is the emerging data telling you? What matters about what is staying the same? In what is changing?
By measuring your influence, you can gain insights and awareness into your interpersonal communication, leadership, and collaboration. You can also use your influence to achieve your goals and make a positive difference. To increase your influence, you need to practice and apply the following principles: be authentic, be credible, be relevant, be empathetic, be respectful, be supportive, be engaging, be inspiring, and be adaptable.