What Influence Means in Business
Recently, I have been sharing points from my new book, "Best of the Best - Lead Boldly, Scale Rapidly, Create Your Legacy." I thought I would share some insight on the value of "influence," including defining what an influencer is, who you influence, and who can influence you.
While profit is important, business leaders also look beyond earnings to find ways to make a positive impact on the world and bring more purpose to their lives. They can envision the future and actively work toward making it happen. They also inspire others to help turn that vision into reality.
“True success in business is no longer
just about by how well you close deals;
It’s about how well you build relationships that
inspire, motivate, and help others be their best selves.”
Slater, Ivy. BEST of the BEST: Lead Boldly, Scale Rapidly, Create Your Legacy. (p. 60).
“Influencers" – those you influence and who can influence you.
Influence isn't just about transactional relationships tied to dollar signs (this, from someone who loves her numbers!). You can do both. Here's what influence means to the “best of the best:”
A broader vision beyond transactions focuses on building deep, lasting relationships that can boost sales and success.
Connecting through giving and winning—sometimes beyond finances—and acknowledging that when we give, it often comes back to us.
Harnessing the magic of unexpected encounters—for example, at your local coffee shop, discovering an old friend is your ideal business resource, or realizing you share a common interest with a client or colleague that opens doors to collaboration.
I‘d like to illustrate a few of these influence factors with some real-life experiences I encounter regularly.
Show up every day from a place of “I care.”
Positive influence occurs in even the tiniest encounters during the day. Consider how differently your morning would start if you regularly had a positive, caring experience with the same cheerful coffee barista.
Back when I ran my printing company, Slater Graphics, I would stop into Timothy’s Coffee on my way to the office. The staff was the same every day, and the nice gentleman behind the counter would say, “Good morning, Ivy. How’s your day going today?” He knew my order and served it up with a smile. It set the tone to have a great day just from his attitude. This was not just for me – he knew all the morning regulars and greeted us all with his smile and good cheer.
Nina Marino at Kaplan Marino kindly agreed to let us include her quote in The Influence Factor chapter about the importance of maintaining a positive attitude.
“I had a vision from the beginning of who I wanted to be as an attorney, and it really came down to staying open and taking steps forward. As I met people and they liked and trusted me, I just became their go-to person – suddenly, I have an international practice! When you stay open, these things just organically grow.”
—Nina Marino, Partner at Kaplan Marino (https://kaplanmarino.com)
Go BIG, don’t hold back
In a recent conversation with a potential client, we talked about:
What are you looking to achieve?
Why is this important to you?
What is your vision for the next five years?
She answered, “Which way do you want me to answer this? Realistic? Or BHAG (Big Hairy Audacious Goal)?
My answer — Don't hold back! GO BIG!
Make your Influence your brand
Think about what your brand says about you/your company. Train your team to make all outward-facing encounters reflect on your brand influence —every point of contact counts.
Where do you stop for your coffee in the morning? Does their staff have that warm, friendly attitude? This is the first cup of the day, and the person who hands you your coffee has the opportunity to set your tone based on their influence. What are you doing in your company to create this impact?
It’s better to show up warm and pleasant; it’s not that hard to be nice. It’s harder to show up grumpy and angry. That’s true for every company, whether it's four people, 10 people, 100 people, or 100,000 people.
Authenticity is the critical piece to making your influence your brand. If you decide to influence someone for the purpose of getting an immediate return, it's not going to work.
Instead …
… work on unleashing those qualities, talents, and interests that set you apart.
… explore who and what influences you.
… put influence into practice, mentorship.
… build relationships with respectful and meaningful communication.
Explore more of Best of the Best, read it, and complete the worksheet activities. I’m confident it will add value to your business leadership and team-building practice. If you’re reading it, leave a review and let me know what you’re taking away. And if something resonates, pass it forward. Please share it with someone who could use the message or momentum.
P.S. If you've started implementing something from the book, I'd love to hear about it. Shoot me a message—I always love seeing how ideas turn into action.
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You can find Best of the Best - Lead Boldly, Scale Rapidly, Create Your Legacy - on all platforms or wherever you buy books.