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5 Easy Steps to become an Influencer

Writer's picture: RGB Training ServicesRGB Training Services


Introduction


Have you ever wondered how some people are able to influence others and get their work done without much effort? This is no special tool but once learnt to use - this skill can do wonders whether it is your workplace or any social setting. It is a must have skill for humans to survive well although this skill is not easy to master but with the right condition and practice this can be a very powerful tool for anyone to possess. This article explains all the sub skills needed for being a good influencer.



Tips to become a Pro Influencer



Facilitation

Facilitation is the process of involving participants in the creation, discovery, and application of learning insights. In contrast to presentation, which is typically marked by a "sage on the stage" delivering content to an audience, facilitation is typically marked by a "guide on the side" who asks questions, moderates discussions, introduces activities, and assists participants in learning. This essential and evolving skill is especially important for talent development professionals who conduct in-person or virtual training, but it can also be used by other professionals to facilitate team projects, task forces, committees, and meetings of any kind.


Trainers use facilitation to help learners acquire, retain, and apply knowledge and skills. Participants are introduced to the content and then asked questions while the trainer facilitates the discussion, takes steps to improve the learners' experience, and makes suggestions. They, on the other hand, do not do the work for the group; rather, they guide learners toward a specific learning outcome.


Facilitation is a skill which can be used to provide opportunities and encourage groups to boost their efficiency and productivity by active listening, timekeeping and preparation. An influencing person brings everyone together, motivates them and builds a high morale so that the team can strive towards a mutual aim or goal. Facilitators can be seen as a leader who works from the shadows instead of a direct helper but keeps the morale and influence high in the team. Hence a facilitator is important since he inspires and motivates, manages time to aid progress and brings the team on a common ground whether by influencing or resolving conflicts.


The skills that a facilitator requires are – being prepared, listening, encouraging, unbiased/neutrality and time management.


Collaborating


Collaboration at the workplace is when different individuals come together to form a group and share a common goal and work towards it to meet the organization’s aims and benefits. It is a work style which is efficient and less tiring, targeted towards the outcome of the assessment. It is scientifically said that collaboration at the workplace is more efficient and optimal and has greater chances of sticking to the work and not getting bored.


Cohesion at the workplace is an effective tool which leads to a successful outcome with a greater proficiency than working alone. Cohesion here stands for the bonding between the group, every single individual connection with each other. It was questioned a few years back:

What is that one factor—that one critical ingredient—that will transform an ordinary, everyday group into one that yields superlative and long-lasting outcomes for its members?

This was answered in a journal called 'Group Dynamics: Theory, Research and Practice' after 25 long years - cohesion. It was said in this journal, that groups which are closely knitted perform better than the groups which are not. This has been backed by a research “Recent Advances in the Study of Group Cohesion” by Donelson R. Forsyth in which it has been said that cohesive groups are more productive, efficient and engaging. No single reason is responsible for bringing groups to work together or split apart. Some groups are cohesive because the members like each other in the group, some groups stay close because they are emotionally connected and on the same page whereas some other groups may be sticking together because they are motivated to reach the common goal for the organization.


Persuasion


Persuasion at the workplace is a powerful skill to know, whether you think of it as a negative or positive influence. It holds the power to change beliefs and actions for favorable goals. Although persuasion is not that easy of a thing and requires certain things to get better at it:


  1. Trust - Possibly the most important condition, as a person needs to have faith on the person who is influencing. Taking a daily life example – whose advice would you prefer taking? Your close friend or a stranger.

  2. Listening to other people's suggestions - Taking others' views and ideas into consideration and plans builds reputation and trust between the two, this also changes their opinion about you and considers you a more reliable and trustful source and hence makes persuasion easy.

  3. Your words should have some weight - people pay attention to your words and get convinced when there is some conviction and credibility in your words. Popular phrases like – action speak louder than words and always practice what you preach – talk about the same thing. Backing your words with some real life incidents and examples while persuading can effectively help influence.

Inspiration


The force that makes someone want to do something or gives someone an idea about what to do or create is referred to as inspiration: a force or influence that inspires someone.


Importance of inspiration at workplace


It motivates you to work harder in order to achieve your goals.


If you've found inspiration to do something, you'll give it your all. This is most likely the most significant advantage of motivating employees. The mutual efforts of an organization's employees determine its success. When each employee works hard to give his or her all, it becomes much easier to achieve goals. It aids in the reduction of stress.


If you find a task boring, you will become frustrated with it. On the other hand, you are content to do what makes you happy. As a result, you are less likely to be stressed at work. Stress not only has a negative impact on your mental health, but it also has a negative impact on your productivity. As a result, it is critical to ensure that employees enjoy their jobs. Creativity is stimulated by inspiration.


If an employee puts his or her heart and soul into a task, he or she will find numerous ways to complete it efficiently and successfully. As a result, it is critical to make a task challenging and interesting in order to encourage brainstorming. Remember that in order to meet the challenges of a competitive world, an organization must be innovative.


These are some of the advantages of finding inspiration at work. Now the question is, how do you motivate your employees? Consider how employees can find inspiration at work - Read inspirational material.


Motivation


Motivation at the workplace is arguably the most crucial component, the efficiency of the employees and the productivity depends on their level of morale. To keep productivity at the highest it is necessary for the morale of the workers to be high. Motivation can be different for everyone although at the workplace motivation can be in the form of incentives, appreciation, or initiatives like ‘employee of the month’, ‘best performer’. When talking about motivation at the workplace, there is no better way to explain it than the popular psychology theory of motivation given by Maslow’s hierarchy of needs.


This theory of motivation was given by an American psychologist Abraham Maslow explaining human motivation based on the level of needs. He states that humans fulfill their needs based on hierarchies which start from basic needs to advanced needs namely – physiological needs, safety needs, love/belongingness, esteem and self-actualization. The basic level of needs need to be fulfilled first before advancing to the next level.


The basic needs start from Physiological needs which are sleep, food, shelter, water, air, clothing and reproduction.


Next come, Safety needs which consist of social security, job security, safety for accidents and crisis in life.


After safety needs come love and belongingness which tell us about the need for humans to be socially and emotionally bonded with others, get affiliated and intimacy.


Esteem needs is the fourth level in the hierarchy which include the sense of achievement and accomplishment, dignity, self-respect and recognition from others.


The highest level in Maslow’s hierarchy is Self-actualization which refers to the full potential of a person, when a person is at its peak and the feeling of self fulfillment.


 

Hope you found this article helpful. If you or your organization is interested to learn more about such attributes and behavioral skills at the workplace, feel free to get in touch with us at RGB Training Services!


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