Influencing Others

Definition of Influencing Others

The best leaders successfully influence up, down, and across the organization as well as out to the community. They are courageous, humble, and seek to act for themselves instead of being acted upon. Influencing behavior is not a one-time event, but a continuous process and investment in building relationships and trust. The goal of wielding this influence is to understand the community, campus, organization, members, and their work in order to come together to achieve objectives.

Professional: Leader of team and less experienced in the application of influence. Able to apply positive influencing approaches and techniques to motivate and lead direct reports. Represents the team and its influence within the organization. Willingly accepts guidance and direction of organizational leadership and represents team, department, and organization positively within the community.

Senior Professional: Able to motivate, guide, and influence departments, teams, and/or multiple individuals including professional employees, who may themselves be leading others. Proficient in and models positive influencing techniques and leverages them to achieve the goals of the organization and the university. Has reach and influence throughout the organization and university.

Principal: Leads complex organizations and has influence both inside and outside BYU. Demonstrates and models an advanced ability to positively influence others and lead with vision, encouragement, and motivational techniques and practices. Establishes goals and vision that drive cooperation and unity and help the organization more effectively and efficiently accomplish its mission. Able to relate to employees and high-level leadership. Able to influence others based on established reputation as a leader. Has developed strong working relationships with individuals inside and outside of their organization and university and facilitates dialogue between departments.

How to Develop Influencing Others

University Courses:

· Bachelor’s degree in business or related field
· Advanced degree in areas such as MBA, MPA, etc.
· Organizational Leadership or Leadership Development courses

Training/Other Courses:

· Leadership Pattern – Human Resources | BYU Idaho
· Principles of Leadership Training Manual – The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
· Learning Tree International – Influencing Skills Training: Getting Results without Direct Authority
· Watermark Learning – Leadership and Influencing Skills Training

Professional Associations/Certifications:

· Certificate Leadership & Influencing – Watermark Learning
· Influencing Skills – Management Concepts
· Influencing People – Coursera
· Etc . . .

Books/Publications:

· Multipliers: How the Best Leaders Make Everyone Smarter - Liz Wisemon & Greg McKeown
· Influencer, The New Science of Leading Change - Grenny, Patterson, Maxfield, McMillan and Switzler
· The Extraordinary Leader - Zenger and Folkman
· Drive - Pink
· The 360-degree Leader - Maxwell
· Emotional Intelligence: The Essential Guide to Improving Your Social Skills, Relationships and Boosting Your EQ - David Clark
· How to Win Friends and Influence People - Dale Carnegie
· Influence: Master the Art of Impact & Persuasion - Modern Psychology Publishing

Experiences:

· Serve on community committees/boards
· Get involved in committees across campus
· Sponsor or participate in campus groups/clubs
· Participate or lead a cross-organizational project

How to Demonstrate Influencing Others

DO: Describe what you did in completing/achieving your development plan

· Complete the Leadership Pattern: Leading Like the Savior material.
· From a personal/team/university/community perspective, provide examples of how your influence made a difference in the success of a project/strategic objective.
· Develop personal plans to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of your role.
· Provide examples of how others perceive you and your ability to influence others.

ASSESS: Share, if applicable, any assessments that were taken/provided related to your activities

· Discuss with your supervisor the things you learned by completing the Leadership Pattern: Leading Like the Savior training.
· Discuss with your supervisor your current level of influence from within the team/university/community.
· Discuss with your supervisor opportunities that may expand or increase your sphere of influence.

LEARN: Explain what you felt that you were able to learn during your journey/experiences

· Complete the Leadership Pattern: Leading Like the Savior material.
· Study the department mission statement and identify the role you and your team play to fulfill it.
· Examine the mission of the university and identify the influence your department’s mission has in supporting the overall activities of the university.
· Learn the Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) in your department and identify the influence that you and your team has on them.

APPLY: Give specifics examples where you have/plan to make direct application to your work

· Discuss with your supervisor the things you learned while completing the Leadership Pattern: Leading Like the Savior training and ways you can apply it in the workplace.
· In conjunction with your supervisor, propose ideas and plans for how you or your team can improve influence within the team/university/community. If implemented, quantify the difference your plan has made.

REFLECT: Review/consider things you would have done differently had you had this experience earlier

· Reflect on how the changes you have made by applying the Leadership Pattern: Leading Like the Savior principles have impacted you, your team, and your department.
· Reflect on changes you have made to your work habits in conjunction with influencing skills that you have sought to develop. How do those changes impact you, your team, and department?