4 ways to become a person of influence

1. Be Present

In order to influence others, you have to be willing to show up. Before people can like or trust you, they have to know you. They can’t get to know you unless you give them the opportunity.

1. Be Consistent

You won’t be able to influence others if your beliefs and your behavior are not in alignment. The most difficult person to lead—and thus influence—is yourself. You don’t have to get it perfect. We are each a work in progress, but there has to be a fundamental integrity between our words and our actions. (I’ll share more about this on Wednesday.)

1. Be Empathetic

As the old saying goes, “People don’t care what you think until they think you care.” You have to be willing to listen without judgment (at least initially). You have to see the situation from the other person’s point of view.

1. Be Counted

You have to be willing to speak up. Your words won’t mean much if you:

don’t routinely show up
aren’t walking your talk
don’t listen
[These are in the order they are for a specific reason.]

Assuming you are not guilty of those things, you also have to find the courage to speak up. Sometimes it’s to lend support to an idea you believe in. Other times, like the case with my neighbor, it’s to challenge an idea you don’t believe in. Regardless, people can’t read your mind. Unless you speak up, you won’t have influence.

Before people can like or trust you, they have to know you.