How to Keep Building Your Influence, Even as You Work Remotely

If there’s one thing we know at SmileDirectClub, it’s the importance of a smile. It can be a way to comfort, commiserate, energize and inspire.

In this time of remote working, we’re all feeling the impact of having fewer face-to-face moments. And among other concerns, you might be feeling like it’s harder to influence outcomes or achieve results with fewer opportunities for personal connection.

I’ve been thinking about this a lot since we started working remotely in March, and I wanted to share some thoughts about how to maintain and build your influence in a remote world.

First and foremost, keep in mind that influence is really about trust – and that can be built whether you’re six feet apart in an office or talking through a computer screen.

Trust in the workplace is based on three key things:

·      Being capable – delivering with quality

·      Being clear in your motivations

·      Being consistently dependable - doing what you say will you do

Two of these are easier to control – our own capability and dependability. The other takes time and a commitment to relationship-building.

So, in a time of remote working, when you want to maintain and build your influence, it’s important to invest in the time you spend building relationships. It’s not quite as easy without chance meetings in the hallway or the coffee shop. But it can absolutely be done over Zoom, Teams or whatever meeting tools you have.

Creating trust is about creating connections. To get started, think through the key stakeholders that you work with and need to influence.

·      How is your relationship with each of them?

·      How well do you understand their perspective?

·      What do they need and how can you help?

·      What motivates them and what are their hot buttons?

It takes spending time, without agenda, to build a relationship and get to know the answers to these questions.

I know some people shy away from this. You might think someone won’t want to hear from you unless there’s a decision to be made or a transaction to be completed. But in fact, many people like to be sought out for their knowledge and insight. And we’re all a little lonely right now.

So, you can always start with seeking advice and then ask a few additional questions about the person. And when you are authentically you and even try a little vulnerability with areas you feel less secure in, this creates the openness for the other person to share back with you and really connect.

It’s important to be transparent about your intentions. This isn’t about stealthily gathering intelligence on your stakeholders. It’s about creating an honest plan to build important relationships.

Remember: Trust is based in part on being clear on your motivations. So, be upfront that you respect them, see them as integral to what you do, and want to build a relationship that benefits you both. Then suggest a video meeting for:

·      A virtual coffee break.

·      A get-to-know-you conversation.

·      A specific topic you’d like their perspective on.

·      An insight you’d like to understand.

And then: Smile! We are fortunate that this era of remote working coincides with the rise of video networking tools.

Of course, we all recognize the potential for fatigue at the end of a day of online meetings. Sometimes it’s important to disconnect.

But when you’re trying to build relationships and, by extension, build your influence, nothing replaces the value of a face-to-face conversation. The eye contact, visual cues and, yes, the shared smile – they’re invaluable.

Here are some resources that may help you get started:

·      On increasing your influence at work

·      On strengthening your ability to influence

·      On how to get good advice

·      On why trust matters at work

·      On finding balance and staying connected in a remote world

·      And, my prior blog about courage, because I believe anytime you step outside your comfort zone, it’s a good way to grow

Work is different right now, but your progress toward influence doesn’t have to be. Invest in building it, and you’ll see it continuing to grow.

I’d love to hear how it’s going and what you learn. In fact….why don’t we schedule a Zoom?