Your title can change but no one can take away your skill of influence. There’s no doubt that with or without a title, you need influence. Yes, a title gives you authority, but it doesn’t make you a leader. It doesn’t guarantee your ability to inspire, rally everyone together, generate buy-in, and harness the potential of others, which is what leadership is all about. So, what is the importance of influence in leadership? It’s the opposite of authority. Let me explain.
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What is Influence and Why Is It Important?
Traditionally, influence is seen as making someone do something. It’s a transactional approach with the wrong focus: what you get out of it. Your attention is only placed on getting a yes or for someone to take action.
But influence isn’t about coaxing and convincing, and it’s not about abusing authority. It’s helping someone confidently take action that benefits them, helping them be, do, and have more of what they want. Your attention then shifts to the transformations people will experience.
- Influence is not: making someone do something.
- Influence is: inspiring someone to envision their transformation.
And why is this important?
Influence: Career Benefits and Consequences
There’s a right and wrong way to influence. If you approach it traditionally, your career will reflect the right side of the path. But if you approach it the Finka Inc. way, focusing on people’s transformations, your career will look like the left side of the path.
FUN FACT: Being influential can actually improve your workplace wellness. It brings more meaning, importance, and belonging to your role.
In short, influence builds and grows your career and leadership, helping you reach your next level.
Without it, important messages go unheard, your audience is disengaged, you waste your time pitching initiatives, and problems remain unsolved. This all amounts to:
- Sacrificed credibility and trust.
- Increased risks to your business.
- Strain on your relationships.
My Leadership and Influence Examples
Now, I’ve had my fair share of ups and downs when figuring out how to influence within my corporate career. So, I’m going to share with you some personal stories so you can see what to do and what not to do.
Influence Example: What Not to Do
In my banking days, I had led a successful program that raised the institution’s net promoter score (NPS) from 17 to 57, meaning I not only supported elevated customer experience, but revenue too.
So, I developed a “Phase 2” called Courageous Conversations, which focused on asking for business and referrals. And even though I prepared a PowerPoint presentation for the executive, the meeting went poorly. The executive was completely disengaged. As a result, the proposal was not approved
I’ll point out what went wrong below.
Influence Example: What to Do
Still in my banking days, but as a Human Resources Business Partner (HRBP), I identified an opportunity to address diversity in leadership: leaders wanted more women in senior roles, yet they were losing them.
Within my preparation, I focused on understanding their specific needs and priorities, approaching the meeting as a conversation rather than a presentation. And guess what? I received approval within 12 minutes. They loved it so much so that they wanted the workshop not only for women, but for all.
Confidence and swagger were elements they wanted all their people to have, which led me to delivering 13 workshops to 350 employees.
So, where did I go horribly wrong and what did I extremely right? Below you’ll see a list of Influence Hindrances and Helpers. The Hindrances are what I learned not to do when influencing and are what led me to rejected proposals. The Helpers are what I learned are necessary for people to say yes to you in record timing. ⬇️
Lessons Learned: Influence Hindrances and Helpers
Don’t Figure Out How to Influence Alone: Access Your Influence Amplifier Blueprint
What is the importance of influence in leadership?
- It builds your credibility, trust, career, and leadership.
- It inspires and transforms people’s lives.
- It creates engagement and investment in roles.
- It generates opportunities and results for companies.
While this concludes my article, it doesn’t finalize your learning. You’re not done yet! I’ve created a tool—Influence Amplifier Blueprint—to help you guide someone to saying yes in 12 minutes too. From identifying your stakeholders to understanding their deepest motivations, you’ll go into every meeting, pitch, and presentation feeling planned and ready to conquer your message delivery.
