How Can You Influence People More Effectively?

April 29, 2009 by Sandrine
Filed under attraction marketing

If you are unable to influence people, you cannot be in business and you cannot be an entrepreneur. Influence is one of the most important qualities you need to possess if you want to succeed.

How can you influence people more effectively? Unfortunately you can’t. Although you need influence to succeed, it is not something you acquire. Influence can only be given to you as a gift from the person you wish to influence.

In The Art of Influence, Chris Widener shares in more detail what you can do to have more influence. The first thing you need to do is make a mental shift. Influence is not something you do to someone; influence is something someone gives you.

You cannot decide who to influence, but you can decide to become the kind of person people want to be influenced by. What are the characteristics of that person? Start by looking at the people you are influenced by and see what they have that attracts you to them.

All leaders will agree that the sure way to influence people is to put their interest first, ahead of yours. You can see then that influence is not something you do to them, but a gift they give you because they trust you.

When you have convinced people that you have their best interest in mind, not just for the short run, but because of who you are and want to be, they will trust you to help them make decisions. This gift of trust is the gift of influence. It must be earned.

Putting other people’s interest ahead of yours is the only way to add value to their life. They don’t care about your interest, not until you have cared about theirs. If you do this as a technique, they will sense it; it must be your way of life in order to be sustainable.

Being able to influence customers is indispensable for your business. If you focus on your customers’ needs and constantly look for ways to meet them in a superior way, soon, you will have a lot of people trusting you to guide them in their decision. You will have mastered the art of influence.

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