10 Ways to Boost Your Influence at Work | Catherine Mattiske

Oct 17 / Catherine Mattiske
Ever feel like you're not being heard? Like your ideas falling on deaf ears? If you're struggling to communicate effectively and increase your influence at work, you're not alone. But don't despair—help is on the way!

Here are 10 tips to get your ideas across and increase your influence at work.

1. Know your audience.

This one seems like a no-brainer, but it's worth repeating. Make sure you know whom you're talking to and what their needs and concerns are. Only then can you tailor your message to resonate with them.

When writing to influence others, it is essential to know your audience. Whether you are trying to connect with potential clients, engage your employees, or communicate a new vision to stakeholders, it is crucial to understand the needs and interests of those who you are trying to reach. For this reason, one of the most important skills for any creative professional is the ability to learn about and connect with different audiences.

Effective communication is another essential element of influence. Whether through written words or spoken language, it is important to find effective ways to convey your message and make a connection with those who you are trying to influence. This means understanding not only what you want to say, but also how best to deliver that message so that it resonates with your intended audience.

As someone who wants to be a successful influencer, it is also important that you continually seek out new opportunities for learning and growth. By staying attuned to evolving trends and staying open-minded about different sources and styles of information, you can gain valuable insights that will help you better influence those around you. So if you want success as an influencer, remember always: know your audience, communicate effectively, and continue learning!

2. Keep it simple.

Don't try to communicate everything all at once. Break down your message into bite-sized chunks that are easy for your audience to digest.

When it comes to influencing others, it is important to keep things simple. By using clear, direct communication and connecting with people on an emotional level, you can create a deeper connection and begin to influence their decisions. Additionally, it is important to be open to learning and growing along with the people that you are trying to influence. This will enable you to more effectively understand what makes them tick, allowing you to find the best way to influence them and connect with them on a deeper level. Whether it's through reading up on current events or taking a class related to your field, there are many ways that you can improve your influence skills and connect with others in more meaningful ways. In the end, by staying focused on simplicity and continuous growth, you can succeed in influencing those around you and making a positive impact in the world around you.

3. Be clear and concise.

Make sure your message is clear and free of jargon. Be as concise as possible—your audience will thank you for it!

Jaylin had always been a hard worker. She was the first in her family to graduate from college and she had worked her way up through the ranks of a major corporation. But lately, she felt like she was being overlooked. Whenever she presented at meetings, most people were scrolling through their emails or doing other work on their laptops. They weren't listening to her. Jaylin decided that she needed to find a way to get people's attention and make them take her seriously.

She started paying close attention to how the most successful executives in her company behaved during meetings. She noticed that they used body language and tone of voice to influence people's attention. They spoke with certainty and made eye contact with everyone in the room. She noticed that they were clear and concise. Also, they didn’t talk to everyone in the room the same way – they had a technique for tailoring their message according to who they were speaking to.

 Jaylin began practicing these behaviors herself and soon found that she was getting more positive responses from her colleagues. She was even being asked for input on important decisions! In time, Jaylin became one of the most influential members of her team thanks to her ability to translate her message to how people learn and capture people's attention.

When you want to influence and connect with others, it is crucial that you are clear and concise in your communication. Whether you are sharing ideas in a meeting or writing an email to colleagues, being direct and to the point allows people to easily understand and engage with your message. It also helps you to build trust and credibility, showing those around you that you are someone who values clarity and directness.

To truly influence others, it is also important to be an effective communicator. This means taking the time to listen actively and gather input from others so that you can better understand their perspectives and ideas. By connecting with those around you in this way, you are able to better influence them through your words and actions. Ultimately, the key to effectively influencing others lies in cultivating a willingness to learn from them as well as a skill for communicating with clarity and conviction. So if you want to influence others in your professional or personal life, be sure to focus on being clear and concise in your communication while also cultivating a genuine desire to learn from those around you.

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4. Listen more than you talk.

You'll never be able to influence someone if you're not listening to them first. So shut up and listen! Not only will it help you understand their needs and concerns, but it will also show them that you respect them and value their input.

Great leaders are always willing to listen more than they talk. By actively listening to those around them, they can better understand their needs and gain valuable insights into how they can influence and connect with others. Whether communicating with coworkers or building relationships with clients, effective leaders know the importance of communicating effectively and building strong bonds that allow them to successfully influence others. Additionally, when we listen instead of talking, we must always be on the lookout for new opportunities to learn and grow, keeping our minds open and receptive to fresh ideas. Ultimately, by practicing active listening in all our interactions, we can ensure that we are improving ourselves as well as contributing to a positive influence on those around us. So the next time you have a chance to speak up or step back, remember that listening is always the more powerful choice. After all, influence isn't just about hearing your own voice – it's about connecting to others through meaningful communication. And that's something worth listening for!

5. Use analogies and metaphors.

A good analogy or metaphor can be worth a thousand words—literally! They can help make complex concepts more relatable and easier to understand. So when in doubt, reach for an analogy or metaphor to get your point across more effectively.

To influence someone is to reach out to them on a deep, personal level, connecting with their thoughts and beliefs and communicating in a way that allows them to learn and grow. Whether you are swaying people towards your point of view or enticing them to try something new, using analogies and metaphors can be an effective way to influence others. It takes skill, creativity, and charisma, but when done well, it can help you to connect with others in a meaningful way. Whether you use metaphor or analogy―or both―your goal should always be the same: to communicate effectively, unlock understanding, and inspire action. So if you want to influence those around you and make an impact on the world around you, dive in headfirst, think outside the box, and let your words do the work. With imagination and persistence, anything is possible. So go out there and influence the world!

6. Tell stories.

We all love a good story, so why not use them to communicate your ideas more effectively? Stories are a great way to connect with your audience on an emotional level and make complex concepts more relatable.

Channing had always been a great storyteller. His friends and family would often gather around him to hear the latest exploits of his characters. But as he got older, he started to realize that he could use his storytelling skills to make an impact in the business world. He decided to put more stories into a presentation and noticed an immediate difference. His audience was engaged and inspired, and his message came across with greater clarity and impact. Thanks to his storytelling abilities, Channing was able to achieve success in his career like never before.

To influence others and engage them in your stories, you need to be able to connect with them on an emotional level. Whether it's through a gripping plot or evocative imagery, your ability to communicate will determine how successful you are at crafting an impactful narrative. And ultimately, learning to tell stories is about learning to connect with the people around you and truly understand their needs and wants. With empathy and creativity, you can influence those around you in meaningful ways and help them see things from a new perspective. By harnessing the power of storytelling, we can all become more connected and more inspired as individuals and as a community. So go out there and start sharing your best stories today!

7. Be assertive, not aggressive.

There's a fine line between being assertive and being aggressive, so make sure you don't cross it! No one wants to be on the receiving end of an angry tirade, so keep your emotions in check when communicating with others. Remember, the goal is to influence them, not alienate them!

To influence people, you must be assertive, but not aggressive. This means that you must stay in control of your emotions and communicate with confidence and clarity. By being an approachable and relatable person, you will be able to connect with others and influence their thoughts and actions. But more importantly, you must always be willing to learn from others. Each individual has something unique to offer, and by acknowledging these strengths, you can find new ways to influence them and overcome any challenges that may arise. Through this process of continuous communication and growth, you can successfully influence those around you in a positive and meaningful way. And by staying focused on your goal while maintaining a respectful attitude towards others, you can achieve great things. So remember: in order to influence others effectively, always be authentic, open-minded, and forward-thinking. You've got this!

8. Use "I" statements.

When communicating with others, use "I" statements rather than "you" statements. For example, instead of saying "You need to do this," try saying "I think it would be best if we did this." This small change in wording can make a big difference in how your message is received.

In order to influence and connect with others, it is important that we use "I" statements instead of "you" statements. By focusing on our own experiences and thoughts, rather than blaming others or directing our messages at them, we can better communicate with and learn from those around us. Whether we are communicating with coworkers, family members, or friends, this simple shift in perspective can help forge stronger connections and allow us to influence others in positive ways. So the next time you want to communicate something or share an idea, remember to focus on yourself – and watch how quickly your influence grows!

9. Avoid absolutes.

Words like "never" and "always" are absolutes that should be avoided when communicating with others. They'll only serve to put people on the defensive, which is the last thing you want when trying to influence them!

When we are trying to influence others, it is important that we avoid using absolutes in our communication. By focusing on the gray areas between right and wrong, we can better connect with and influence those around us. Our ability to communicate effectively will also be enhanced, as we are able to listen more attentively and learn from others' different perspectives. Ultimately, avoiding absolutes enables us to remain open-minded and receptive to new ideas and experiences, helping us build meaningful relationships and further our own growth and development as individuals. So if you want to influence others in a positive way, remember that the key is to connect with them at every step of the way, communicate openly and honestly, and always be ready to learn from wherever your journey may take you.

10. Seek first to understand, then to be understood.

This final tip comes from Stephen Covey's book The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People. It's simple but profound: seek first to understand, then to be understood. In other words, before trying to communicate your own ideas, make sure you fully understand the other person's point of view. Only then can you hope to effectively communicate with them!

In order to influence others and connect with them effectively, it is essential to first seek to understand them. Whether you are dealing with colleagues, clients, or customers, it is important to put yourself in their shoes and try to see things from their perspective. By really listening to what they have to say and paying close attention to their body language and mannerisms, you can gain valuable insight into what drives their decisions and actions. Once you've taken the time to truly understand those around you, then you can start thinking about how best to influence them. A powerful way of doing this is through communication – whether written or spoken – that speaks directly to the needs of your audience. By harnessing these skills and techniques, you can become a highly effective communicator who wields significant influence in any situation.
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In Conclusion

If you want to be someone people look up to and seek your advice, start by following these tips. When you find your groove and tap into your natural talents, the sky’s the limit. What other techniques have helped you boost your influence? Let us know in the comments below!

By following these 10 tips, you'll be well on your way toward increasing your influence at work! Just remember: know your audience, keep it simple, be clear and concise, listen more than you talk, use analogies and metaphors, tell stories, be assertive, not aggressive, use " I " statements, avoid absolutes, and seek first to understand and then be understood. Do all of these things and watch your influence skyrocket!

Supercharged communication is the ability to get into your Genius Zone and communicate with others in a way that is clear, concise, and effective. It involves understanding what others want and need, as well as how to deliver your message in a way that
 is most likely to be received positively. Using Inner Genius this is called a Translation Bridge. When you have supercharged communication skills, you can influence people more effectively and get them to see things from your perspective. This can be invaluable in both personal and professional relationships.

If you want to know how to get into your Genius Zone by supercharging your skills to learn, connect, communicate and influence better the Inner Genius team is here to help.
About Catherine

About Catherine mattiske

Catherine Mattiske, best known for creating ID9 Intelligent Design and the Genius Quotient (GQ), is a leading light in the corporate learning and team-building industries. She regularly works with large and small organizations to help team members better understand one another while effectively collaborating and boosting individual and team morale and productivity in the workplace.

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