The No. 1 Skill for Leading Up, Down and Across

The No. 1 Skill for Leading Up, Down and Across 

By Joel Garfinkle 

There is one thing, one talent that matters more than all of the training, titles and corner offices combined could lend to your ability to lead. It doesn’t matter if you’re a top executive or a junior admin – it can lend the same weight.

That skill is influence, and can also be practiced, honed and refined. That’s correct – you can and must increase your influence on your own; no one can bestow it upon you.  People are attracted to leaders they can believe in. Whether you’re just starting out, or managing a team of dozens, people both above and below you want and need to see that you can inspire others and bring about positive change. No matter where you sit within an organization or in your life, you can make an impact.

So what is influence? Influence is your ability to alter or change a situation. Depending on the stage of your career, you may be able to do this by providing a welcome opinion, making certain critical things get done, or by making the final decision on moving forward with a project or initiative. Whether or not you wield power is not critical to your influence – influence can exist regardless of your position or title.

Much of your impact on gaining results are based on this article.  You can have the best answers and best thoughts, but if you can not influence you will not have any great followers!

~ David

“The only place where success comes before work is a dictionary.”

~ Vidal Sassoon

Published by Smart Brief on April 18, 2016.