

Position yourself as an expert: Attending conferences and constantly updating your skills will help you be seen as an expert in your organisation, which will make people view you as a committed professional who has influence by virtue of excellent industry knowledge and a desire to be ahead of the game. If people think they aren’t being heard, there’s no faster way to spread resentment.

If people feel they are being heard, they are much more likely to view you as a true leader. This shows that you respect people and it builds mutual trust. If however, you are assertive, and you completely believe in the ideas you’re putting across to people, you’ll be more likely to be seen as an authority who knows their stuff.ĭon’t just talk, listen: The more you listen to people’s ideas and demonstrate that you believe in them, the more people will value your ideas and opinions it’s a 2-way street. If you’re consistent, it’s a great way to gain influence because you’ll be considered trustworthy, and you’ll have no trouble getting people on side.ĭon’t mistake assertiveness for aggression: Some degree of assertiveness is essential for getting yourself heard, but don’t cross the line into aggression and arrogance as this could seriously harm your ability to influence others.

Complete your own tasks on time and to a high standard and people will believe you’re consistent and reliable. Set consistent expectations for employees and reward hard work.

As a manager, you probably do have the authority to make demands of your employees, but if you’re truly influential, your demands will be met because employees trust you and believe in you, not just because you’re a manager barking out orders.īe consistent: Demonstrate consistency in your leadership. Be open and honest, and don’t make colleagues feel like they are being kept out of the loop. So gaining influence at work does take time and effort, but how can you make the path a little smoother? Here are some strategies you can use to increase your influence at work:īuild trust: Healthy and collaborative working relationships are built on trust.
