Do you feel like you are being taken seriously? Or do you sometimes feel like your ideas or opinions are completely overlooked?
Influencing is part of our daily lives, although most don’t ever stop to think about it. Instead we go on unconsciously reacting to situations typically using our dominant personality traits. But have you ever stopped to consider how you influence others? And are you getting what you need out of your relationships with other people?
There are definite advantages to being aware of general influencing styles. Typically people use one style more than others, and will automatically assume that style when they are trying to get their point across or reach a desired outcome. However, that may not always be the most effective method.
Having an awareness of the range of approaches gives you the opportunity to consciously choose the one you feel will be the most appropriate for a given situation. It’s not about being manipulative, but rather being effective. Who doesn’t want to get things done and reach mutually beneficial outcomes? The style you take has a huge part to play in if that happens.
Based on research undertaken in 2010, Discovery Learning Inc. identified 5 easy to identify Influencing Styles. They are:
- Asserting: you insist that your ideas are heard and you challenge the ideas of others
- Convincing: you put forward your ideas and offer logical, rational reasons to convince others of your point of view
- Negotiating: you look for compromises and make concessions to reach outcomes that satisfy your greater interest
- Bridging: you build relationships and connect with others through listening understanding and building coalitions
- Inspiring: you advocate your position and encourage others with a sense of shared purpose and exciting possibilities
When reading these definitions, you may feel you can immediately identify your dominate style. Some styles will likely feel unfamiliar or may even make you feel uncomfortable. It is important to remember that none of the styles are inherently wrong or bad, rather it is our reaction to them. Each style needs context and it is the situation that ultimately dictates which influencing approach will be the most effective. Influencing your manager or colleagues to come together to get a task done will likely require a different method than you would use to communicate with your spouse.
By being aware of the range of influencing approaches, you put yourself in a position where you can consciously react. Once you step back to assess a situation, you can choose the best way to exert your influence, and hopefully increase your chances of getting the outcome you desire.
Hi. I’m Kate Snowise, and Thrive.How is my business-baby. I’m a Executive & Well-Being Coach who helps people who want the good stuff out of life, get it. I have an MSc in Psychology (the happy kind of psychology that concentrates on what is right with you). I offer individual coaching and personality assessment to help people clarify their thinking, grow into their potential, reconnect with themselves and regain balance. Click here to learn more.
To download a copy of my free mini-guide – 8 Tips Towards Creating a Thriving Life – click here.
If you would like to know more about Discovery Learning Inc’s 5 Influencing Styles in an organizational context, you can download the White Paper by here: http://info.discoverylearning.com/influentialleadership-gettingyourway-whitepaper