Influence is the bridge between ambition and achievement, connecting your dreams to reality

All great leaders are amazing influencers too. The good news is that influential leaders are not necessarily born but can be made. That means you too can be influential. So, in today’s episode, “Leadership Influence: The Mid-Career X Factor,” I’ll be decoding some important aspects of influence-building – six steps to help you build influence, giving you the edge over others and fast-tracking your growth from mid to senior level.

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By the end of this session, you will have better clarity on influence-building, and you’ll also learn actionable strategies to make influence your X factor.

That being said, let’s dive into today’s topic, “Leadership Influence: The Mid-Career X Factor.” But before that, let’s have a sneak peek into the top three benefits of building influence in your career.

Benefit Number One: Leadership Opportunities

Building influence directly correlates with more opportunities to step into leadership roles. As you gain the ability to inspire and motivate others, you become a natural candidate for positions that require strong leadership skills.

Benefit Number Two: Team Effectiveness

Influential leaders can foster a positive and productive team environment by building relationships, communicating effectively, and demonstrating integrity. An influential leader can create a cohesive team that collaborates efficiently towards common goals.

Benefit Number Three: Career Advancement Opportunities

Influential individuals often find more doors opening for them. Your ability to communicate persuasively, build strong relationships, and lead by example can lead to promotions, increased responsibilities, and overall career advancement.

So, as a mid-career professional, you may either be a new leader or an aspiring one; building influence is a sure-shot strategy to fast-track your success. So, let’s talk about the cool topic: How do you become an influential leader?

Now, there are six strategies using which you can become an influential leader.

Strategy Number One: Establish Credibility

It’s a foundational step in building influence. How do you establish credibility? There are three ways to do it. Number one, you need to develop your expertise. Identify a niche within your field where you can become an expert. Once you become a specialist, that sets you apart from the crowd and enhances your credibility. The second way to establish credibility is by showcasing consistent results. Document and communicate your accomplishments in a tangible, measurable way, whether it’s about meeting targets, completing projects ahead of time, or driving revenue growth. Consistency in delivering results builds trust. The third way to establish credibility is by expanding your network, which you can do by participating in industry events, seminars, conferences. Attend networking events to get different perspectives and opportunities, and connect with potential mentors. Improve your online presence on platforms like LinkedIn to connect with industry leaders, share your insights, and engage in meaningful discussions.

Strategy Number Two: Build Meaningful Relationships

How do you build meaningful relationships? Be an active listener; strive to understand others’ perspectives by listening with empathy. Ask open-ended questions to make the other person talk and believe that you are listening. Another way is by fostering genuine connections; be authentic in your interactions. Authenticity builds trust. Share your experiences, your value systems, and even your vulnerabilities if required. The third way of building meaningful relationships is by expanding your network beyond your immediate team or department. Connect with professionals from different areas of expertise for varied perspectives around different topics. Attend networking events to broaden your network.

Strategy Number Three: Communicate Effectively

Hone your storytelling skills. Craft stories that resonate with your audience. Use real-life examples to make your message more memorable and relatable. Tailor your message to your audience by understanding their preferences, expectations, or knowledge level. This leads to better connection. Expand your communication channels; utilize various platforms, including verbal communication, written communication, visual mediums, and technology. Choose the most effective medium for your message.

Strategy Number Four: Demonstrate Integrity

Uphold your ethical standards. Assess the potential impact of your actions on all stakeholders and choose a course of action that aligns with high ethical standards. You cannot compromise on your ethics. Demonstrate integrity by being authentic and genuine; be yourself in personal and professional settings. Consistency in your values and behaviors fosters trust. Another way is to be responsible for your actions. When mistakes happen, take ownership without blaming others. Acknowledge your role and work towards resolving the issue. Taking accountability builds trust and shows that you are committed to learning and growing.

Strategy Number Five: Lead by Example

Set high standards for yourself; strive for personal excellence by setting ambitious goals. Demonstrate a commitment to high standards, inspiring others to reach for that level. Showcase a strong work ethic; be consistent in your efforts by meeting deadlines, putting in consistent effort, and exceeding expectations. Inspire through your actions; maintain a positive and optimistic outlook, even in challenging situations. Celebrate both individual and team success. Recognize and reward hard work to build a culture of achievement. Support others by investing in their professional development.

Strategy Number Six: Adaptability

Embrace change proactively; cultivate a positive mindset towards change, seeing it as an opportunity for growth and improvement rather than a disruption. This sets the tone for the team to embrace challenges with enthusiasm. Another way to show adaptability is by developing a culture of innovation; encourage creativity as innovation often comes from diverse perspectives and collaborative thinking. Showcase adaptability by leading through difficult times. During times of uncertainty, provide clear and transparent communication, keeping the team informed about what’s happening, reducing anxiety, and allowing for a more focused and adaptive approach. Always be prepared to make decisions swiftly and adapt your strategies as required.

So there you have it, the six strategies leading you to one goal – building influence, which will help you skyrocket in your career. Let’s recap all the six strategies:

1. Establish Credibility
2. Build Meaningful Relationships
3. Communicate Effectively
4. Demonstrate Integrity
5. Lead by Example
6. Be Adaptable

Now go on and start implementing these strategies to build an influential profile, which will prove to be your X factor as a mid-career professional. I hope you found today’s session value-packed. If you are committed to rewriting your growth story and building skills for a future-proof career, register for my upcoming webinar. Trust me; this webinar has the potential to reshape your career. The registration details can be found in the section below.

Don’t miss my next podcast where I’ll talk about the power of strategic networking in accelerating your career. Thank you once again for joining me on this episode of Excellence Unboxed. Until next time, this is Shrijith Krishnan signing off. Stay Influential and Stay Empowered.