0:00:00.2 Jen Thornton: Today, let's talk about mastering the art of influence.
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0:00:07.6 JT: Welcome back friends. This is your place for cutting edge tools, exercises, best practices, and modern leadership strategies. Because when the world is changing, it's time to bring our leadership styles along for the ride. Whether you're a company leader, a corporate visionary, an entrepreneur, this show gives you new insights into the neuroscience and the language of leadership. Plus practical steps and tips to lead your teams in a powerful way. It'll also help you keep your people happy and engaged all while achieving your biggest goals. I'm your host, Jen Thornton. I'm a talent strategist, a brain-based executive coach, speaker, and the founder of 304 Coaching. Now, let's fix leadership.
0:00:51.3 JT: We've all been told at some point in our career we have to be able to influence if we want to be successful. But often when I'm coaching people, they ask, what does that even mean? So I thought I'd give you a quick guide to influencing. Let's start with what is influencing? Well, it's defined as a silent force that shapes decisions, drives performance, and forges path to success. It's a skill that transcends mirror authority and it enables leaders to inspire, motivate, and guide their teams towards achieving collective goals. Now, if you're a good influencer, remember, always use your powers for good and never use your powers for bad. Because influence is not about manipulation. It's about understanding and aligning with people's inherent motivations to create synergy that propels a team forward. A leader's ability to influence is critical in so many areas of the business. One of those is decision making.
0:01:52.6 JT: Influential leaders can effectively sway decisions and outcomes in a way that benefits the team and the organization. Influence can drive performance. It drives it by inspiring and motivating teams. Leaders can elevate performance beyond the individual's capabilities by influencing them to see what's possible. Influence is critical in change management. It is key in navigating the complexity of change, ensuring buy-in from stakeholders and guiding the team through transition with minimal resistance. And influence helps you build relationships. It extends beyond task and projects. It's about building strong, resilient relationships that stand the test of time and the test of challenges. So now all of that is great and all, but how do you cultivate your influence in a workplace?
0:02:43.3 JT: Well, it involves a combination of personal development, strategic communication, and emotional intelligence. So let's just start with understanding your team. Influence starts with understanding. Take the time to know your team member strengths, weaknesses, motivations, and their challenges. This knowledge allows you to tailor your approach to align their goals and aspirations, making your influence more natural and more effective, influenced by being the example. Actions always speak louder than words. By embodying the qualities you wish to see in your team like integrity, dedication, empathy, you set a powerful example that influences behaviors more effectively than any directive could. And if you wanna be a great influencer, you have to be effective at communication. Master the art of communication. Be clear, be concise, be transparent. Listen actively and acknowledge different perspectives. This builds trust and respect, which are the foundation of influence.
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0:03:54.1 JT: Let's take a quick break from the conversation. Does your company need to prepare those upcoming leaders to take the rein? To learn more about our leadership academies and our coaching, and to see if your company is a good fit for our transformation programs, visit 304coaching.com.
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0:04:13.0 JT: When you empower your team, you are influencing. Empowerment is such a strong toll of influence. By delegating authority, encouraging autonomy, you instill confidence and foster a sense of ownership. This not only boosts performance, but it also enhances your influence as a leader who trust and believes in their team. And to influence, you have to be adaptable. Influence requires flexibility. Be open to adapting your style, your approach based on the situation of the individual that you're dealing with or the situation at hand. This agility enables you to navigate various personalities and different circumstances. Foster a positive culture. Influence is at its most powerful in a positive supportive environment. Cultivate a culture that values collaboration, learning innovation, recognize achievements and provide constructive feedback. Creating an atmosphere where everyone feels valued and motivated.
0:05:17.7 JT: And I feel like I say this in almost everyone in my podcasts, so here I go. I'm saying it again. Here is a theme across so much in leadership. To be a great influencer, you have to engage in continuous learning. Influential leaders are perpetual learners. They stay curious about new trends, skills, and perspectives. This not only enhances your capability, but also demonstrates a commitment to growth that inspires and influences others. Influence and leadership is really about inspiring and guiding others towards a shared vision. It's a delicate balance of understanding, empathy and strategic communication. But by cultivating these skills, you can create a work environment that not only drives performance, but also fosters a sense of purpose and fulfillment. Remember, the goal of influence is not just to lead, but to empower others to become leaders in their own rights. And in doing so, you not only amplify your own impact, but you also contribute to the legacy of excellence and innovation that transcends individual achievements. Do your part in building a better world of leadership by building your influencing skills.
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0:06:36.9 JT: Thanks for listening to Let's Fix Leadership by hanging out with me today, you're already on your path. If you're looking to learn more and to see if your company is a good fit for our coaching and leadership education, then hey, visit 304coaching.com. If you got value outta this podcast, share it with a friend and it would mean the world to me if you would leave a thoughtful review and a rating on iTunes. Thanks again for listening, and I appreciate your work in fixing leadership.
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