Today on the Journey to Significance we will be looking at Influence and Impact.
“The greater the impact you want to make, the greater your influence needs to be”. John C Maxwell
Influence is the capacity to have an effect on the character, development, or behaviour of someone or something, or the effect itself. And the impact is a marked effect of influence.
We are all influenced at all times by people, places, events and situations and we continue to be influenced by the things that happen around us.
There is no right way, neither is there only one way to influence others. Everything is a factor when it comes to influencing people.
How do you Influence?
Influence begins with you. It is about understanding yourself and the effect or impact you have on others. It can be one way but the primary relationship is two way, and it is about changing how others perceive you. Influence is simply defining your impact.
The saying “perception is reality”, is the perfect phrase to use in the context of influencing.
It doesn’t matter what’s going on internally for you – if it isn’t perceived by the other person, then it doesn’t exist, other than in your mind.
One simple way to influence people is to talk in terms of what the other person wants. Or doing things in terms or what the other person needs.
You could be doing the most brilliant presentation you’ve ever created, but if you haven’t brought your ‘audience’ with you, the brilliance is wasted. You need to see what is going on with them, which may be slightly or entirely different from what you perceive.
Everyone is unique and everyone sees things differently. Influencing is being able to convince the other person to see things at your frequency. Making them see your views and persuade him unconsciously into understanding it.
Influence and impact have a strong effect in living a significant life.
Being able to positively live an impactful life requires you to look within yourself and create a change where necessary. Sometimes you need to change your behaviour to be able to exercise the kind of influence you will like to exert.
There are six faces of a dice, we need to see things from the perspective of others. Although influence might begin with you as an individual, it will, however, trigger some reactions from others that will in turn influence you as well.
In whatsoever you do, your words, your actions, at your work, influencing others is about having the confidence and willingness to do something, make things happen and make an impact.
To mother Theresa, Influence meant to love and care. To John C Maxwell, Leadership is Influence, to me. Influence is being significant. What does influence mean to you? Because your definition of Influence will define the level of your impact and determine the things you do daily.
If you don’t have influence, you will not be able to make impacts and there will be nothing significant about you.
Influence is simple as commenting on this post or sharing it with others. I encourage you to do that little thing. Take that little step that will have an impact on the people you come across with this week.
Have a blessed week.
Kind Regards,
Oluwadara Adekunle
@darakunle
Thank you for reading. I’m really looking forward to seeing your comments.
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I enjoy reading ur posts always
Thank you for your kind words. Have a blessed day.