Leadership as Influence
Influence is the capacity to constructively persuade and convince others to both embrace a task and willingly take action in an effort to achieve the desired results.
Leadership as Influence:
Concept Described:
Authentic leaders understand leadership as constructive influence in action. They do not focus on leadership as an expression of their authority, power, position or status. Authentic leaders appeal to power and authority as their least preferred influence strategy. Leading others through insightful and impactful influence strategies is the pathway to maximizing our leadership effectiveness. The concept of leadership as influence is closely aligned with the concept of “leadership as service,” the character trait of “motive” and the competency of “communication.”
Leadership as Influence:
Concept Developed:
- Embrace the Concept of Leadership as Influence (do you agree with this concept? Will you make it a
self-directed standard of your leadership practices?). - Conduct frequent self-assessments of our influence strategies. What is our present maturity level?
Growth requires reflective insight and the willingness to change. - Practice both self and collaborative accountability for our influence strategies.
- Practice the habit of asking: what is the best influence strategy to achieve the desired result?
- Maintain awareness of motives that undermine constructive influence strategies (e.g. fear, defensiveness, self-serving motives etc.).
“Authentics lead by influence that shows real care,
Not power, or title, or their cooly cool hair;
These lead all the time and without much delay,
Thinking deeply how others can have a great day”
“Al and the Authentics”
Maturing the Character Trait:
Respectfulness
Trait Defined:
Respectfulness: Honoring other people’s humanity and beliefs through our actions and words toward that individual or entity. Respect gives a positive feeling of esteem or deference for a person or entity (such as a nation or a religion) and motivates the attitudes and conduct representative of that esteem.
Trait Described:
Respectfulness is the external expression of our internal attitudes toward others.
Respectfulness relates to others based on a belief that as humans, regardless of status or position, we are all of equal value. As authentic leaders, we must recognize that maintaining respectfulness with others across the myriad of circumstances we navigate is essential to our effectiveness. Respecting the
value of others involves recognition of their humanity and their personal code of behavior, regardless whether we agree with that code or not. Respectfulness also requires a balanced sense of self (humility) to help safeguard us from exaggerating our human value over others. Especially when we believe others may have inferior points of view or capabilities. Respectfulness is most closely aligned with the concept of service, the character traits of motive and humility and the communication competency. As authentic
leaders, we must keep the character trait of respectfulness internally intact and in the forefront of all we say and do.
Trait Developed:
- Embrace the Character Trait of Respectfulness (do you agree with this character trait? Will you make it a self-directed standard of your leadership?).
- Conduct frequent self-assessments on respectfulness across all spheres of influence. What is our present maturity level? Growth requires reflective insight and the willingness to change.
- Practice both self and collaborative accountability in relating respectfully toward others.
- Practice the habit of asking: am I maintaining respectfulness in my leadership practices?
- Maintain awareness of attitudes and opinions that undermine respectfulness (sarcasm, ridicule, being condescending, unfair criticism; villianizing others to mask and justify our disrespect.