Have you ever thought of how many people that you have the opportunity to influence each day? According to the Center for Creative Leadership, the average person could influence over 100 people each day. That may seem like a really high number, but just imagine every person that you come into contact with throughout the day. How will you show up for these interactions?
You could have the opportunity to educate someone on a topic that you are passionate about and will need their support on. Learn more about them during a conversation including their background and experiences which can be useful information to have. All of this can help you understand what the other person’s position is on a situation which helps you plan out how to best influence them.
You will also need to consider what influencing approach will work the best. You could leverage logic, emotion or collaboration to influence the discussion to reach your intended outcome. One thing to keep in mind is that it is important to influence with the larger objective of the company in mind, not just to be the one to win or be right. Present the full picture of pros/cons, cost benefits and why you feel it is beneficial to them to align with you. The goal is to have a win/win outcome for everyone whenever possible.