Tips sheet: Influencing

EVERY SO OFTEN GOODFOOT PUBLISHES TIPS SHEETS,
WE DO HOPE YOU FIND THEM INFORMATIVE AND USEFUL.

Please click here if you would like to be added to our tips sheets distribution list.

TO INFLUENCE OTHERS IS TO PLAY THE PATIENT GAME. KEY ELEMENTS NEED TO BE IN PLACE SO THAT WHEN YOUR IDEA IS PUT FORWARD PEOPLE FEEL INCLINED TO RESPOND POSITIVELY.

In general, influencing is about managing the other person's feelings. Emotions govern decisions, the right emotion allows others to listen to our argument and seek out the good points, the wrong emotion encourages them to look only for the points they disagree with.

In the next Goodfoot tipsheet there will be some key tips which you can use in presentations or meetings to good effect in an attempt to get a quick decision.

Here are a few approaches you could try:

Give the impression that they are influencing you when you talk with them. Show you are listening. Nod, smile, acknowledge, make notes, ask questions. People are more influenced by people they think they are influencing.

Ask advice before trying to influence. This raises the moral obligation for others to accept some of your request.

Listen for words they like and use them in your requests.

Genuinely want them to be happy with what they gain from responding to your request. Then they will sense that you genuinely care and your request will sound more appealing.

Concentrate on making a friendship rather than influencing, even if the person is senior to you in the organisation. Once you have friendship influencing is much easier.

Please email us for more information or contact Jeremy Howells on +44 (0) 192 685 9060.

Other tips sheets

Goodfoot News ...

Goodfoot forums

NEWS LETTERS, TIPS SHEETS & other info