Becoming An Influential Leader

“Building trust is a process. Trust results from consistent and predictable interaction over time.” - Barbara M. White

Trust is the first step to influence.

An influential leader is one who persuades others to adopt their opinions, attitudes, behaviors, or choices. If you lead with influence versus authority, you will accomplish more because your team's perspective is in line with yours.

I always think about parenting as my most challenging years of being an influential leader. When I was successful in getting my daughters to adopt my opinions and attitudes as they were making choices for themselves, they made the "right" choices. My leadership was admired.

If their choices or behaviors did not mirror mine, I was sometimes forced to pull the "authority" card. As a parent that typically involves saying, "Because I said so." This style of parental leadership was never met with enthusiasm. Typically their response was something along the lines of, "that's not fair."

The workplace is not drastically different. For our co-workers and teams to adopt our opinions, attitudes, behaviors and choices they first must trust us. Trust is not built in a single meeting. It takes time. If you are not certain if you have built trust with your team and/or co-workers, consider grading yourself on the following elements that build trust.

• Consistency: Are you consistent in your expectations of others? In meeting deadlines? In setting a high standard of performance for yourself? In being a person others can depend on?

• Kindness: Do you avoid office gossip? Do you greet your co-workers when you see them? Do you take an interest in sincerely congratulating them when they achieve a goal? Do you provide helpful feedback?

• Problem Solving: Are you able to look at a situation and find solutions to help your co-workers accomplish the task at hand? Are you willing to dive in and offer your expertise and assistance?

• Humbleness: Are you willing to accept feedback and take ideas from others? Do you share credit with the others on your team for a job well-done?

I always go back to the Golden Rule when establishing my trustworthiness with others. Do to others as you would have them do to you.