How to Influence People

All People Are Influential

Everyone influences someone else. Success depends on influence. Parents must influence their children; salespeople must influence their customers; and managers must influence their employees. Personal influence works at four ascending levels:

• “Modeling” – People base how they act on the behavior they see in others, just as children copy their parents. The closer you are to people, the more influence you develop with them.
• “Motivating” – You influence others when you connect with them emotionally and encourage them. The more positive your relationship is with someone, and the better he or she feels about it, the more influence you can have.
• “Mentoring” – At this level, you actively guide people and help them lead better lives.
• “Multiplying” – You are such a positive influence that the people you influence go on to influence other people beneficially. This is the pinnacle of successful influencing.

“A Person of Influence...Has Integrity with People”

You cannot influence others if they don’t trust you. Earning trust takes integrity. Character is internal and manifests...