Dive into the art of influence at work! Learn how understanding others' motivations can elevate your career. Practical strategies for aligning personal goals with team interests are unveiled. The importance of listening and curiosity is emphasized, showing how adaptability can make a difference. It's all about building trust and making incremental changes for long-term success!
Understanding and building trust with others is essential for effective influencing and achieving career goals in a collaborative environment.
Successful influence relies heavily on active listening, which allows for better engagement and alignment with the motivations of others.
Deep dives
The Importance of Influence in Career Development
Influencing others is a critical skill for career progression, as it helps secure buy-in for ideas and recommendations. Establishing influence can lead to increased trust, making it easier for individuals to execute their plans effectively. When people trust an influencer, there is a greater likelihood that they will follow through on commitments, thereby fostering a collaborative environment. Ultimately, the ability to influence not only enhances personal reputation but also contributes to overall professional success.
Listening as a Tool for Effective Influence
Successful influence often hinges on the balance between speaking and listening, with a greater emphasis on the latter. Engaging in active listening allows for a deeper understanding of the concerns and motivations of others, making it easier to tailor arguments that resonate with them. The approach of listening first can transform conversations, shifting from a one-sided monologue to a more nuanced, collaborative dialogue. This strategy helps to build rapport and gradually nudges individuals toward alignment, acknowledging that influencing may be an ongoing process rather than a one-time push.
This is episode 5 of 20 in the Squiggly Careers Skills Sprint. Today, Helen and Sarah talk about influencing and how understanding others and gaining trust helps you achieve more of what's important to you at work.
New to our Sprint? Our Skills Sprint is designed to help you create a regular learning habit to support your squiggly career development.
Each episode in the series is less than 7 minutes long and has ideas for action and recommended resources on a specific topic.
1. Sign up for the sprint and receive a free guide to get started: https://bit.ly/skillssprint2024
2. Watch our Sprint on YouTube: https://bit.ly/scss-playlist