Today, we're tackling a crucial yet often unspoken topic: influence. Building influence across an organization is vital for any manager and becomes even more essential as you climb the career ladder.

Influence is about changing the thoughts, behaviors, and actions of others through persuasion, inspiration, and relationship-building—not through authority or control.

In This Episode:

• What is Influence?: Understand the true meaning of influence and its importance in leadership.
• My First Attempt: Learn from my initial experience of pitching an idea to the executive team and the lessons I gained.
• Effective Strategies: Discover practical tips for building influence, including asking the right questions, personalizing your approach, and showing genuine care.

Key Takeaways:

1. Build Rapport: Start meetings by breaking the ice and making connections on a personal level.
2. Ask Questions: Understand what truly matters to your colleagues.
3. Tailor Your Message: Link your ideas to what is important to them.
4. Show You Care: Demonstrate genuine concern for their well-being.

These steps will help you influence others effectively, making you a more impactful leader.

Subscribe for daily leadership tips and insights. If you enjoyed today's episode, please leave a review and share it with other emerging leaders.

For more leadership tips: visit my blog.

Until next time, keep striving, growing, and leading with purpose!

Krisp Microphone (Krisp Audio)-10:

Good morning.

2

00:00:01,930 --> 00:00:05,470

My name is Bianca Cardinez and

welcome to next gen leaders.

3

00:00:06,460 --> 00:00:10,330

Today, I'm going to be talking

about something that's unspoken,

4

00:00:10,420 --> 00:00:13,390

but important and that is influence.

5

00:00:13,919 --> 00:00:16,470

How do you build influence

across the organization?

6

00:00:16,770 --> 00:00:19,020

Krisp Microphone (Krisp Audio)-11:

This is important as a manager, but

7

00:00:19,020 --> 00:00:23,129

once you start climbing up that ladder,

it's going to be even more important.

8

00:00:23,580 --> 00:00:27,449

You're going to want to learn how

to influence without trying way

9

00:00:27,449 --> 00:00:32,198

too hard . Today, I'll tell you

a story about my first attempt.

10

00:00:32,628 --> 00:00:36,530

Hopefully we can learn a thing

or two through my mistakes.

11

00:00:36,889 --> 00:00:38,839

Krisp Microphone (Krisp Audio)-13:

But before we get into that, let's

12

00:00:38,839 --> 00:00:43,009

define what influence actually is

because we've all heard this word.

13

00:00:43,579 --> 00:00:45,440

But what does it need?

14

00:00:46,039 --> 00:00:50,479

Basically influences your

ability to change the thoughts,

15

00:00:50,479 --> 00:00:52,910

behaviors, and actions of others.

16

00:00:53,569 --> 00:00:58,550

It involves guiding people to change

their thinking or take certain actions.

17

00:00:59,119 --> 00:01:03,259

Influence it's not about having

authority or control over people and

18

00:01:03,259 --> 00:01:05,929

manipulating them towards a certain end.

19

00:01:06,179 --> 00:01:10,889

It's all about persuasion, inspiration

and building relationships.

20

00:01:11,309 --> 00:01:14,489

Krisp Microphone (Krisp Audio)-25:

About six months ago, I noticed that we

21

00:01:14,519 --> 00:01:19,829

weren't having the impact that we wanted

to have after our coaching process.

22

00:01:20,309 --> 00:01:26,129

So I did a lot of research and figured

out an amazing idea that could help

23

00:01:26,189 --> 00:01:28,469

prove our value to our clients.

24

00:01:29,469 --> 00:01:32,350

Krisp Microphone (Krisp Audio)-27: I

took my idea to the CEO and she loved it.

25

00:01:32,350 --> 00:01:34,899

Krisp Microphone (Krisp Audio)-26: She

told me to prepare a very high level

26

00:01:34,929 --> 00:01:39,249

presentation so I can pitch it to the

executive team and the consultants.

27

00:01:39,499 --> 00:01:40,519

Krisp Microphone (Krisp Audio)-28:

That next week.

28

00:01:40,819 --> 00:01:43,609

I meet with everyone

and I pitched my idea.

29

00:01:44,469 --> 00:01:46,869

Krisp Microphone (Krisp Audio)-26:

Then towards the end, I hear crickets.

30

00:01:47,799 --> 00:01:48,848

I was so confused.

31

00:01:48,848 --> 00:01:51,069

I was thinking aren't they getting it?

32

00:01:52,069 --> 00:01:55,789

I presented the data and the

reasons why we should do this.

33

00:01:56,239 --> 00:01:57,949

But it wasn't clicking in their mind.

34

00:01:58,819 --> 00:02:00,679

Once that meeting ended, I felt.

35

00:02:01,069 --> 00:02:01,729

Crushed.

36

00:02:02,249 --> 00:02:05,069

Krisp Microphone (Krisp Audio)-14: I

spent so many hours researching this idea.

37

00:02:05,459 --> 00:02:12,478

I've built this very elaborate deck

along with actual demo of my idea.

38

00:02:13,049 --> 00:02:14,639

And it didn't land.

39

00:02:15,249 --> 00:02:17,709

Krisp Microphone (Krisp Audio)-30: If

anything, it made the executives even

40

00:02:17,709 --> 00:02:19,959

more skeptical about what I was offering.

41

00:02:20,959 --> 00:02:23,029

Krisp Microphone (Krisp Audio)-14:

What I did after that was I took

42

00:02:23,029 --> 00:02:28,980

the time to schedule one-on-ones

with each executive And I asked

43

00:02:28,980 --> 00:02:31,049

them, okay, what are your thoughts?

44

00:02:31,620 --> 00:02:37,739

And each told me a different version

based on their unique needs at the moment.

45

00:02:38,529 --> 00:02:41,649

It wasn't until then that

it clicked in my brain.

46

00:02:42,609 --> 00:02:47,209

I should have scheduled time

with each one individually asked

47

00:02:47,478 --> 00:02:49,309

about what their needs were.

48

00:02:50,309 --> 00:02:54,449

And then found a way to fit

my idea into their needs.

49

00:02:55,439 --> 00:02:57,869

So that way they naturally bought into it.

50

00:02:58,739 --> 00:03:04,079

Because us humans are very

much focused on ourselves.

51

00:03:05,009 --> 00:03:07,409

We're focused on how do

we get our needs met?

52

00:03:07,829 --> 00:03:09,329

Why is this important to me?

53

00:03:09,779 --> 00:03:10,289

And.

54

00:03:11,219 --> 00:03:12,569

How does this benefit me?

55

00:03:13,569 --> 00:03:18,849

As long as you understand that, You can

take steps to make sure that your tying

56

00:03:19,269 --> 00:03:21,728

what's in it for them, with your goal.

57

00:03:22,549 --> 00:03:24,049

Krisp Microphone (Krisp Audio)-15:

I'll tell you a story of a

58

00:03:24,049 --> 00:03:26,119

leader who did this beautifully.

59

00:03:26,369 --> 00:03:28,228

Krisp Microphone (Krisp Audio)-16:

This happened during one of my

60

00:03:28,228 --> 00:03:30,869

role plays and in this simulation.

61

00:03:31,499 --> 00:03:35,309

The leader was supposed to

convince me to stay because I

62

00:03:35,309 --> 00:03:39,869

was unhappy with the company and

I wanted more professional growth.

63

00:03:40,869 --> 00:03:43,089

Krisp Microphone (Krisp Audio)-15:

This leader came in and asked a lot of

64

00:03:43,089 --> 00:03:45,429

questions about what I really cared about.

65

00:03:45,759 --> 00:03:49,839

Where I saw myself in five

years and what I really wanted

66

00:03:49,929 --> 00:03:51,579

out of this role that I was in.

67

00:03:52,429 --> 00:03:56,760

With each of my answers, they

were building a business case

68

00:03:57,450 --> 00:04:03,089

of why I should buy into their

ideas, using my own answers.

69

00:04:04,089 --> 00:04:07,120

At the end of the meeting, He

actually influenced me to stay with

70

00:04:07,120 --> 00:04:09,760

the company because he highlighted.

71

00:04:10,240 --> 00:04:13,570

Why I should stay based on what I needed.

72

00:04:13,920 --> 00:04:15,720

Krisp Microphone (Krisp Audio)-17:

I noticed four key things

73

00:04:15,720 --> 00:04:18,300

that he did to influence me.

74

00:04:19,110 --> 00:04:23,430

The first was, he took time to

build a rapport before diving

75

00:04:23,430 --> 00:04:27,930

into the meeting by asking about

what I like to do on my free time.

76

00:04:28,680 --> 00:04:32,520

I remember this other leader

asked me a great icebreaker

77

00:04:32,520 --> 00:04:34,110

question that I'll never forget.

78

00:04:34,860 --> 00:04:35,670

He asked me.

79

00:04:36,219 --> 00:04:39,039

What is one thing that no one knows about.

80

00:04:39,739 --> 00:04:42,530

He went first just to break dyes.

81

00:04:42,558 --> 00:04:47,359

He said that he liked to go ballroom

dancing with his wife on the weekends.

82

00:04:48,200 --> 00:04:49,340

When it was my turn to go.

83

00:04:50,058 --> 00:04:52,789

I told him that I really

like little mammals.

84

00:04:53,390 --> 00:04:55,099

I used to have chinchillas.

85

00:04:55,169 --> 00:04:56,129

Rats.

86

00:04:56,558 --> 00:04:58,239

Krisp Microphone (Krisp Audio)-18: And

right now I have the little bunny..

87

00:04:58,899 --> 00:05:02,379

That's why you can sometimes hear her,

something around in the background

88

00:05:02,379 --> 00:05:04,509

every now and then, sorry about that.

89

00:05:05,509 --> 00:05:07,459

Krisp Microphone (Krisp Audio)-20:

The second thing that he did was he

90

00:05:07,459 --> 00:05:09,919

shifted the entire focus of the meeting

91

00:05:09,949 --> 00:05:13,709

Krisp Microphone (Krisp Audio)-19: Instead

of just driving his agenda, he took time

92

00:05:13,709 --> 00:05:16,979

to learn more about who I was as a person.

93

00:05:17,979 --> 00:05:20,769

Krisp Microphone (Krisp Audio)-21:

He asked questions to figure out

94

00:05:20,899 --> 00:05:25,669

what I really cared about and what

I hope to see in his leadership.

95

00:05:25,919 --> 00:05:29,809

he also asked what I cared about in

terms of professional development.

96

00:05:30,649 --> 00:05:32,239

Like, did I need a mentor?

97

00:05:32,359 --> 00:05:35,808

Did I need training that

I need other resources?

98

00:05:36,319 --> 00:05:40,099

And he made sure to summarize

everything I was saying.

99

00:05:40,579 --> 00:05:44,179

So that I understood that he

was truly listening to me.

100

00:05:45,179 --> 00:05:46,409

Krisp Microphone (Krisp Audio)-31:

The third thing he did was

101

00:05:46,409 --> 00:05:48,299

explain what was in it for me.

102

00:05:49,299 --> 00:05:53,319

He made everything he was saying

really relevant to my own progress

103

00:05:53,419 --> 00:05:54,769

and future with the company.

104

00:05:55,699 --> 00:05:59,209

This approach is all about

showing why people should care

105

00:05:59,209 --> 00:06:00,589

about what you're proposing.

106

00:06:01,069 --> 00:06:04,339

By linking it directly

to what they care about.

107

00:06:05,329 --> 00:06:10,549

In order to do this, you need to ask a lot

of questions upfront to really understand

108

00:06:10,549 --> 00:06:12,889

what the other person truly cares about.

109

00:06:13,729 --> 00:06:16,579

Once, you know, two or three

things that matter to them.

110

00:06:17,179 --> 00:06:19,699

Tailor your message around those points.

111

00:06:20,449 --> 00:06:24,859

That way your recommendation feels

personalized and important to them.

112

00:06:25,489 --> 00:06:28,189

Making it much more persuasive.

113

00:06:29,189 --> 00:06:31,229

Krisp Microphone (Krisp Audio)-23:

The last thing that he did was he made

114

00:06:31,229 --> 00:06:34,019

sure to communicate how much he cared.

115

00:06:34,839 --> 00:06:39,909

Sometimes we forget to do this, even

with our own personal relationships.

116

00:06:40,479 --> 00:06:43,419

But people really want

to know that you care.

117

00:06:43,669 --> 00:06:45,439

Krisp Microphone (Krisp Audio)-33:

Maya Angelou once said.

118

00:06:46,009 --> 00:06:47,808

Krisp Microphone (Krisp Audio)-32:

People don't care how much, you know,

119

00:06:47,869 --> 00:06:49,339

until they know how much you care.

120

00:06:50,149 --> 00:06:54,558

This holds true in all aspects

of our lives, including

121

00:06:54,558 --> 00:06:56,089

our personal relationships.

122

00:06:56,869 --> 00:07:00,619

Being able to show the other

person how much you cares.

123

00:07:00,949 --> 00:07:05,059

Ties everything together

and enhance your influence.

124

00:07:05,969 --> 00:07:09,239

This applies at every single

level within an organization.

125

00:07:10,169 --> 00:07:12,329

Up down left, right.

126

00:07:12,509 --> 00:07:13,559

It really doesn't matter.

127

00:07:14,249 --> 00:07:18,209

By following these four steps,

you can influence others.

128

00:07:18,689 --> 00:07:19,259

Number one.

129

00:07:19,889 --> 00:07:25,270

Begin by building rapport before

diving into a meeting by asking what

130

00:07:25,270 --> 00:07:26,799

they like to do on their free time.

131

00:07:27,429 --> 00:07:29,289

How long they've been

with the organization.

132

00:07:30,520 --> 00:07:32,379

How are they liking their jobs so far?

133

00:07:33,159 --> 00:07:38,530

What this does is breaks down

those walls going into a meeting.

134

00:07:39,489 --> 00:07:43,719

And it makes everything feel more

personal, like, okay, this is

135

00:07:43,719 --> 00:07:45,308

just another person I can talk to.

136

00:07:46,419 --> 00:07:46,808

Too.

137

00:07:47,469 --> 00:07:52,119

Ask plenty of questions to understand

what truly matters to them and

138

00:07:52,119 --> 00:07:56,590

be sure to take note of each

nugget as you go along the way.

139

00:07:57,429 --> 00:07:57,909

Three.

140

00:07:58,419 --> 00:08:01,020

Tailor your message to

address what's in it for them.

141

00:08:02,280 --> 00:08:02,789

And for.

142

00:08:03,390 --> 00:08:06,419

Show that you care and that you're

concerned about their wellbeing.

143

00:08:07,799 --> 00:08:10,830

By putting your heart into

it, you can influence anyone.

144

00:08:11,469 --> 00:08:15,409

Speaker: Make sure to subscribe

and LinkedIn for daily tips.

145

00:08:16,409 --> 00:08:19,530

If you enjoyed today's episode,

leave us a review and share it

146

00:08:19,530 --> 00:08:21,019

with other emerging leaders.

147

00:08:21,794 --> 00:08:26,344

Until next time, keep striving,

growing, and leading with purpose.