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IOM Blog

March 24, 2021

4 Secrets No One Told You on How to be an Influencer at Work

Your influence is directly tied to the amount of value you bring to the organization. If you want to play bigger and lead better than you must be intentional about being an influencer at work.

Here are four secrets that no one shares or talks about, but they could be holding you back from the influence you could have.

SECRET #1: ADD MORE VALUE THAN NOISE

The first, fundamental step in creating influence is producing kick-ass work that adds value to your team and the organization. If your work is not making your team look good and your boss’s job easier then you are holding yourself back and you are not as valuable as you might think you are.

QUESTION TO ASK YOURSELF:

How can I add more value to my team and manager?

 

SECRET #2: PUT THE TEAM BEFORE YOURSELF

Once you start producing great results, you have a responsibility to put just as much effort and intentionality on building quality relationships throughout the organization. Influence happens when people buy into you and the relationship they have with you. Building authentic relationship that people buy into requires you to zoom out from your perspective and self-interest, create win-win outcomes, be socially responsible to what is best for the team and the organization, and focus on how you get results.

QUESTION TO ASK YOURSELF:

What would I do differently if I put the relationship before the result?

 

SECRET #3: MOVE THE CONVERSATION FORWARD

One of the core lessons I teach my clients around cultivating stronger presence and influence is only speak when you can move the conversation forward. Forward-momentum can sound like summarizing or identifying the core problem or concern so everyone gets on the same page, providing an additional perspective that has not already been communicated, or acknowledging others’ perspective and asking a question for further clarity. Forward-momentum is not speaking to just prove yourself to others in the room or to demonstrate how brilliant you are.

QUESTION TO ASK YOURSELF:

Is what I’m about to share going to move the conversation forward?

 

SECRET #4: EARN THE RIGHT TO GIVE FEEDBACK

I spoke in Lynchburg, Virginia where a group of leaders expressed interest in creating a culture of feedback. They wanted my opinion on best practices for how to create that transformation across their organization. I told them that we do not just inherit the right to give people feedback. Great relationships are built on trust and you always listen deeper and respond kinder when someone you trust gives you feedback. Therefore, people in the organization must earn the right to give feedback and always be clear about the intent on why they are offering it.

QUESTION TO ASK YOURSELF:

Have I earned enough trust with this individual to give this feedback or would it be better coming from someone else? 

 

Avatar photo
Justin Patton
Executive Coach, Justin Patton, LLC
Faculty, Institute for Organization Management

Justin Patton is an international speaker and growth-coach who specializes in helping leaders show up and communicate with stronger impact and credibility.

The unexpected death of his dad when he was only 18 years old taught Justin about perseverance and refusing to be a prisoner to your past. This experience catapulted him into a career in teaching and ignited his bold mission to help people find their courage and their voice.

It is Justin’s ability to make training interactive and thought provoking that has allowed him the opportunity to coach some of the top Fortune 500 companies in the world, facilitate Taco Bell’s largest leadership development program in history, and be a faculty member for Institute of Organization Management. Additionally, his expertise in body language has landed him appearance on local newscasts – and creates regular paranoia in the professional community and among his friends. Before launching his own company in 2011, Justin designed and facilitated leadership and communication skills programs across the globe for Yum! Brands, managed the national sales training department at Anthem BlueCross BlueShield, and taught high school English and creative writing. On his journey to become an acclaimed empowerment coach like his idol Iyanla Vanzant, Justin has received certifications in body language, emotional intelligence, performance consulting, consultative selling, and conflict resolution.

Justin believes if you can change your mindset then you can change your results, but you must be willing to get uncomfortable. It has worked for him. It has worked for his clients. And it can work for you!

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