How To Be Influential Across Your Business (Part 1)

We live and work in a world that isn’t listening most of the time, and building influence across a business is a habit and a practice. My conversations with clients have focused on this topic very specifically.

Strategies to master include:Adopt a ‘can do’ mindset. This is essential when faced with an original commitment which it transpires you can no longer fulfil as originally agreed. Rather than "trust me; we’ll do it if you give us a 3-week extension", adopt a "this is what I’ll need now to hit the original deadline” approach.

• Be crystal clear on your ‘why’. Why is this a problem to solve now? A priority?
• Something I should care about? Make time for?
• Build consensus one person at a time. Again, taking time to test ideas, get feedback, understand priorities requires strategy and effort. Avoid group calls where a ‘cold’ audience is listening to your idea. It never works.
• Finesse the problem you want to solve and evidence your sources. For example, "what our clients have been asking for”, or "what these parts of the business are struggling with" add significant credence to your point of view.

More to read here next month…

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