How to Improve Influence Skills
For successful career advancement, practical business development, you need to have the skills of influence. This area of knowledge will always be of interest to people. Do not despair if success is not immediate. Influence skills are something you can master. We will reveal some great techniques for developing your skills to affect people.
Eight Tips for Developing Business Influence Skills
What exactly does influence skills entail? It involves the developed empathy, intelligence, speed of thinking, excellent communication skills, the ability to negotiate and resolve conflicts. All these can be achieved with experience. Theoretical knowledge is also essential. So, check our list of the most effective techniques.
Establish rapport
It is vital to make connections as a business depends on people. Study the people around you, be attentive to them, look at their features, interests. You also need to understand what their goals in work and life are. What can you offer them? Show respect and express your desire to establish lasting relationships.
Learn to listen
Many hear what they are told, but few listen. It is crucial to build dialogue and not two monologues. Educated speech is a beautiful skill. But most often, success is achieved by those who are best able to listen to their audience, partners, clients, understand their needs.
Do not understand something clearly? Ask!
This is a critical skill taught in many pieces of influence training. Ask if you understood the interlocutor correctly. Clarification of information helps to avoid misunderstandings, incomprehension, and controversial situations. It is better to find out everything in advance than to get problems afterward and solve them. You can also lead a person to the desired solution with the help of correctly asked questions.
Learn body language
Poses, gestures, views of any speaker are fraught with a lot of useful information. A person who learns to understand people will be able to influence them. Be sensitive to your interlocutors’ mood, study their motives, follow not only the words but also hidden notions. You can also mirror the other person’s body language to connect with them better.
Speak the person’s language
Even if you speak the same language heard since childhood; you may still misunderstand each other. There are many dialects and subculture slangs; there are specific words for the elderly and teenagers. If you want to be understood and heard, you should speak with the person in the same language. This will show respect for your business partner and make it easier for you to exert psychological influence.
Sell your ideas
A long-standing HR trick is to ask a candidate to sell any item to a recruiter – like a pen. And this applies not only to sales managers! Learn to sell your ideas, your views. It is crucial to convey the brightest key values of your opinion. The priority is not only the essence but also the packaging.
Stay calm
Situations may vary, but you should always be as calm as possible. Any controversial point can only get worse if you start to get nervous. Breathe deeply. Get distracted by using various relaxation techniques. Also, your balanced appearance will most likely reflect on the attitude of people towards you. Hardly an insecure, anxious person can draw attention to themselves.
Respect yourself and your interlocutor
Respect is not only politeness; it is also an adequate perception of reality. Only by respecting the interlocutor can you see their needs and motives. Everyone has their picture of the world, their views. It is essential to understand and accept people. Only then can you be heard.
Be Creative!
Avoid templates or beaten tracks. Of course, it is vital to apply your experience. But it would be best if you also stay flexible. After all, every situation in your life is unique. Each new problem is your chance to win more.
Achieve success. Be creative, ambitious, and empathic. Promote your ideas by effectively influencing people. This will help you and your company to succeed. Our influencing skills training will help you become even stronger and more successful.