Influence: The Art of Mastering This Powerful Tool to Impact Your Life

Influence is a skill that can greatly impact every aspect of your personal and professional life. Unfortunately, not everyone is born with the natural ability to influence others. It is a craft that requires constant nurturing until it is mastered. Yet, even when you have mastered its technique, this skill is often met with resistance from others along your journey. The key is to keep fighting the battle, to keep honing your craft, and to never give up.

As an influencer, one of the most important things to do is to ask a beautiful question. Before you begin listening to others, approach each encounter as a student and ask questions that will stimulate richer discourse. This will not only help you better understand others but also help others better understand themselves.

Listening is a vital skill set that every influencer should implement. By giving your undivided attention, you will demonstrate open-mindedness and respect, which will make others want to listen to what you have to say. Moreover, you must actively seek out disagreement, as this will challenge your ideas and test their viability. This is a key aspect of critical thinking.

Another important skill that every influencer must practice is focusing only on what really matters. Your energy is limited, and it is imperative to focus that energy on projects where you can make the greatest contribution. To achieve this, it is important to develop a clear “why” that keeps you anchored to what really matters. Additionally, there are strategies that you can adopt, such as delegating work, deferring non-actionable tasks, and conducting weekly reviews of your progress.

Proactivity is another important trait that every influencer must possess. You must create a funnel of strategies to remain proactive, such as asking questions, listening, encouraging disagreements, and focusing on what matters. Proactive people focus on the things they can do something about, and their positive energy enlarges their Circle of Influence.

As an influencer, vision is critically important. To build a compelling vision, you must envision the perfect future by answering two vital questions: What do you want to see happen, and what would “it” look like in three years? Once you are clear on your vision and the things you want, the “how” generally takes care of itself.

Your responsibility as an influencer is not to be the smartest person in the room but to foster a culture of intelligence and to bring out the best in others. Increase your value as an influencer by seeing yourself as a competitive product with benefits and liabilities, all waiting to be improved. Upgrade yourself every year by identifying the skills that will give you more freedom in the future, and dedicate time and effort to mastering them.

In conclusion, influence is a powerful tool that can significantly impact your personal and professional life. It is a craft that requires constant nurturing until it is mastered. By asking beautiful questions, listening actively, seeking out disagreement, focusing on what matters, being proactive, and fostering a culture of intelligence, you can become an amazing influencer. Upgrade your skills every year to stay relevant and keep mastering the art of influence.