Discover the art of influence in professional settings! The hosts dive into genuine relationships versus manipulation and the importance of peer support. They creatively illustrate influence dynamics with shopping trolleys, challenging preconceived notions. Learn how small commitments can lead to big changes, emphasizing public commitments to enhance accountability. Plus, explore the power of reciprocation and the timing of interactions to foster community support at work. Tune in for insightful strategies to enhance your influence!
Influence in the workplace is about building genuine relationships, fostering trust, and enhancing one’s capacity to persuade others effectively.
Employing small requests can lead to larger compliance over time, demonstrating the power of incremental persuasion in both personal and professional contexts.
Deep dives
Understanding Influence in Careers
Influence plays a crucial role in both daily work situations and broader career developments. Key moments, such as job interviews or career transitions, often require the ability to persuade others effectively. The hosts note that influence is not about manipulation; rather, it is about fostering genuine relationships and support. Building strong connections can enhance one’s capacity to influence, as people are more inclined to support those they trust and respect.
The Power of Peer Influence
The concept of peer persuasion, or social proofing, highlights how individuals are often swayed by the actions and opinions of their peers. This influence can manifest in various contexts, such as shopping behaviors influenced by online comments about product popularity. In workplaces, understanding whom colleagues interact with can significantly affect decision-making processes. Cultivating a supportive community can amplify positive influences, as shared experiences and endorsements within the community can encourage individuals to adopt new practices.
Making Small Asks for Larger Commitments
Starting with small requests can pave the way for larger agreements in both personal and professional contexts. Research indicates that when individuals agree to minor actions, they are more likely to comply with more significant requests later on. For instance, soliciting a simple commitment, such as a sticker in a window, can later lead to a larger commitment, like placing a prominent sign outside a home. This approach can be applied in various scenarios, including encouraging participation in personal development or organizational initiatives.
Welcome to week 2 of the Squiggly Careers Videobook Club. In our second episode of the series, Helen and Sarah discuss their experience of watching Influence, a Videobook from Robert B. Cialdini. Together they talk about a statement that stuck, something that surprised them, and what action they are going to take as a result of watching.
The Squiggly Careers Videobook Club is brought to you in partnership with LIT Videobooks, who have given the Squiggly Careers Community access to their library of videobooks for free in January and February 2025. Use this link (before the end of Jan 2025) to sign-up and get free access: https://amazingif.typeform.com/videobookclub
For more information on Squiggly Careers, email helenandsarah@squigglycareers.com