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How to Increase Your Leadership Influence

3 ways to increase your influence and lift the lid of your leadership ability.

Congratulations! So, you finally got that promotion you’ve been chasing. Now you’ve got the official title, better office and a paycheck to go with it, others will definitely start respecting and listening to you now… won’t they?

Nope. Probably not… All too often when I work with aspiring leaders or leaders who struggle to lead with any kind of influence, the most common comment I hear is; “once I get the title, I’ll be able to  lead more effectively. Nobody listens to me now because I’m not in-charge. If I was in-charge things would be different.”

The sad truth is however, if you can’t lead and influence the people you work with without a title, the chance of you being able to do it with a title is slim.

“If you can’t lead people without a title, you won’t be able to do it with a title.”

Oh you might be able to make people do what you want, direct them, manage them, even bully them with a title, but to lead and influence effectively will take more than just a title.

Leadership is more than marshalling a group of people to do what you need them to do. Most employees will obey you because you pay them. Not because they respect you and actually want to follow you where you’re going. True leadership begins with others choosing (not being coerced) to follow you willingly.

“Leadership is more than marshalling a group of people to do what you need them to do”

It is to have a group of people who know, like and trust you and allow you to show them the way forward. It is to be able to cast a vision, set a course and gather the resources and people around you to see that shared vision achieved.

While a title might get you started on the way, it will not sustain you through the challenges of forging growth and change or help you get to your destination with a team that still believe in what you’re doing. Only loyal, believe in you, go over and above for you, followers will get you there. And that kind of loyalty can’t be forced, it must be willingly given.

“While a title might get you started, it will not sustain your leadership”

Leadership expert John Maxwell puts it simply with these two statements:”Everything rises and falls on Leadership [and] Leadership is Influence. Nothing more nothing less.”

In other words your ability to get to where you want to go is going to be dependant on your ability to influence (lead ) those around you. Conversely your failure to get to where you wanted to go thus far is a result of your ability to effectively influence those around you.

“Everything rises and falls on Leadership”

Ok, so now that we’ve got the cold hard truth out of the way, is there any hope for you? Isn’t leadership something you’re born with? What if you’re not a natural leader? Don’t worry. Yes there are some people who have a natural disposition to leadership but effective leadership can be learned and is not primarily dependant on your natural skill set or ability. Providing you’re willing to learn and put in the work, even you can become a more effective leader. And the great news is; you don’t have to wait until you’ve got “that” title to start… You can increase your influence starting today.

“Effective leadership can be learned and is not primarily dependant on your natural skill”

Here’s 3 tips to get you on the way to becoming a more effective leader and growing in your influence with others.

1.Leadership starts with you not your followers. 

To start on the path to effectively leadership you must recognise that everything rises and falls on your ability to lead not on your followers or teams ability to follow. Lead effectively and people will follow you. Period.

Everybody wants to follow somebody. It’s human nature. Are you the kind of leader that they feel confident following?

To start developing your influence you must start by developing yourself. You will only be able to effectively lead to the level of your own personal growth. Invest your time, energy and finances into growing and developing yourself in every area you can to be an effective leader. As you grow, others will recognise your growth and immediately be drawn to you. You won’t have to convince them, they will see it in you.

“As you grow, others will recognise your growth and immediately be drawn to you”

Become a continuous learner, read constantly, listen to podcasts, take courses, join mentorship groups, get a coach, surround yourself with strong leaders and your influence will grow.

2. Leadership take time to develop

Becoming an effective leader takes time. Lots of time. Taking one course on leadership will not make you a better leader overnight, it will start you on a path that will need to be continually honed, practiced and extended. Learn to see your leadership growth as a continual journey rather than a destination.

Learn to see your leadership growth as a continual journey rather than a destination Share on X

It’s easy to look at world class leaders like John Maxwell, Jack Welch or Jim Rohn and feel discouraged about where you’re at in your level of influence. It’s important to remind yourself that they also started where you are now. John Maxwell’s leadership journey has spanned 50 years. He was not the leader he is now in his 20s. Nor will you be the same leader you are now when you are 50 years along in your journey… Providing you stay the course and continue to learn and grow.

3. Leadership is about people not numbers or titles. 

Finally, remember that effective leadership begins and ends with people. It’s not about the numbers you can pull, the money you can make or even the accolades that may come with it. Nobody achieves their dreams without others who are willing to invest in it. To get to where you are going and leave a legacy worth remembering, you will need people to help take you there.

“effective leadership begins and ends with people” 

Put people first in your leadership journey and you will build a legacy that lives on well beyond your own time. Put profits and results above the wellbeing of people and as quickly as they help you reach your goals, they will bring you back to earth.

Nobody ever quits a company, or project. They quit crappy leaders. If you want others to trust you, follow you and help you get to where you’re going, start by showing them that you care about where they are at and help them get to where they are going.

“Nobody ever quits a company, or project. They quit crappy leaders.”

Do that and people will want to help you get to where you’re going.

Your turn, Start by changing your attitude and talk about where you are at. If you don’t like where you are in your career or personal life, stop blaming the people around you or trying to find a way to escape where you are and start developing your leadership right now.

Start by looking at yourself and putting a plan together to grow your leadership. Settle in for the journey and enjoy the time it will take to learn how to be an effective leader. And finally start investing in others.

If you would like to learn more about effectively growing in your leadership, why not check out our FREE Goal setting guide. See below for details.

https://leadcommunicategrow.com/free-goal-setting-guide/

5 Steps to Set Goals that Work

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6 Steps to Discovering Your Purpose

6 steps to discovering your purpose

So, you know it’s important to know your purpose. But what if you don’t know what it is? How can you discover it?

In my previous post I suggested some reasons why knowing your purpose or “why” is so important to reaching your full potential both personally and professionally. But what if you don’t know what that purpose is? Or you’ve discovered that the purpose that was driving you, needs some reevaluation…what then?

John Maxwell suggested 6 questions that can help us assess and identify our why:

1.Do you love what you’re doing now? Seems kind of obvious but if you don’t like what you’re doing now, change it. Too many people keep themselves trapped in jobs and situations that they don’t like, all the while complaining about how much they hate their job, life, etc…  Too many people keep themselves trapped in jobs and situations that they don’t like

Complaining about your situation without changing it does nothing to help you find your purpose, it only makes everyone else around you miserable. Conversely, if you really love what you do, then it’s a good indication you are doing something aligned with your bigger purpose. I like to call this your passion. If you’re doing something you love and it doesn’t feel like a chore, lean into it.

Complaining about your situation without changing it does nothing to help you find your purpose”

2. What would you like to do? Do you have something that you’ve always dreamed of doing? Something that when you’re not preoccupied with the mundane of life it always invades your thoughts? When you’ve got spare time you look for ways to do it? This is called your desire. When your passion and desire intersect, that is where you find purpose… But before you rush out to pursue your desires the next question is important…

“When your passion and desire intersect, that is where you find purpose”

3. Can You do what you want to do? We’ve all seen those folks on TV singing competitions, who say singing is their life, they dream about nothing else but singing, but when they open their mouth everyone cringes because they just can’t sing!

Not all desires should be pursued. If it’s not a gift you possess or something in your strength zone, don’t try and do it. You’ll only frustrate yourself… Ask yourself what you are good at. If you’re not sure what your gift is, what do others say that you’re good at? What’s a task or activity that comes easy to you and brings you enjoyment?  That’s where you’ll start to get closer to your strength zone. “Not all desires should be pursued.”

4. Do you know people who do what you want to do? One of the keys to moving into the area of your desires is knowing others who have gone before you. People who can show you the way, can give you insights into the challenges and how to face them. If the answer is no, start by seeking out and building relationship with others who can do what you want to do.

Jim Rohn says: you are the average of the five people you spend the most time with. Are the people you spend your time with helping you move towards your desires or away from your desires? This is your environment. To discover and go after your purpose you have to create the environment around you that will be conducive to your growth.

Some others ways you can achieve this is by joining a mastermind group, getting a coach or joining a professional organisation related to your passion. You are the average of the five people you spend the most time with.

5. Will you pay the price? As Maxwell says; To go up you must be prepared to give up… Every stage of your growth and development will require a price to be paid in sacrifice. Having a desire and a passion is a start, but it will only really be realised if you are prepared to pay the price required to achieve it. You will have a good indication of your purpose when you know what you’re prepared to sacrifice for.

“You will have a good indication of your purpose when you know what you’re prepared to sacrifice for ”

6. When can you start doing it? It’s one thing to have a passion and even have the drive to make it happen, but until your desire become action it will remain just that; desire. Purpose is tie closely to action, without action your purpose will remain unrealised. Have you started taking steps toward your purpose? If not, when will you start? The things you move towards today will become your legacy for tomorrow. What are you moving towards now? Do you need to change your focus?

Until your desire becomes action it will remain just that; desire #blogpost Discover your purpose”

Your turn: Do you know your why? Post it below. If not, get started today. take yourself through the above the questions and let me know what you discover. Go on, I’ll be here when you get back. Make your start today.

If you’d like help to walk through this process with somebody, contact me for a free coaching session. I’d love to walk you through it.

If you would like to learn more about effectively growing in your leadership, why not check out our FREE Goal setting guide. See below for details.

https://leadcommunicategrow.com/free-goal-setting-guide/

5 Steps to Set Goals that Work

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4 Tips for Becoming a Person of Influence – #4 Becoming a Listener

Increase your positive impact on others and watch your personal and professional success go off the charts. 

Ok Listen up! This fourth tip of four easy tips from John Maxwell’s teaching on becoming a person of influence, will take a little bit of practice to do well if you’re not in the habit of doing it, but once you do your ability to positively impact others will take off.

If you missed tip 1 go here >>>, tip 2 go here>>> and tip 3 go here >>>

4. Become a Listener

Most people listen with the intent of replying. Don’t believe me? Do a little experiment the next time you talk to somebody and count how many times your mind goes to a story or an experience that you have had that relates to what they are talking about. Or worse, count how many times your mind wanders when someone is talking to you.

The art of becoming a really good listener starts with our ability to suppress the innate (and sometimes very strong…) desire to respond every time somebody talks to us.  Unless you spend time really intently listening to others and actually taking the time to delve beneath the surface of what they are saying, you will struggle to build meaningful connections that give you the permission to speak when it is required.

Most people love talking about themselves (I’m no exception). If you take the time to genuinely listen to others and take an interest in them without trying to jump in with your own reply, they will feel more engaged and connected to you. As a result they will have a greater degree of trust in you and when you need to influence them you will find them more willing to hear you out.

What about you? Are you a good listener or is it something you need to practice? I know I need to be aware of my listening all the time. I love to talk, but have seen fantastic results with others when I’ve learned to listen better.

Did you do the experiment? How did you go? Tell us about your experience it in the comments.

To make it easier for you to learn these tips, I have prepared a FREE tip sheet and 4 short videos that you can watch and start applying in your life immediately. Click here to access your FREE tip sheet and video teaching today and start becoming a person of influence.

If you would like to learn more about effectively growing in your leadership, why not check out our FREE Goal setting guide. See below for details.

https://leadcommunicategrow.com/free-goal-setting-guide/

5 Steps to Set Goals that Work