Leading By Influence (Mindful by Jay Ledesma)

“The key to successful leadership today is influence, not authority.”- Kenneth Blanchard. 

Jay Ledesma

When asked about what they look for and expect from their leaders, the younger generations, which composed around 60% of the workforce, tend to prefer leaders who use influence rather than relying solely on position and formal authority. For the Gen Ys and Zs who value authenticity, flexibility, collaboration and change, they want a leader who can inspire and guide them towards a shared goal, by impacting their values, beliefs, and behaviors. Essentially, they are looking for influential leaders who effectively use their influence to motivate, empower, and ultimately, bring about positive change.

The above highlights the transition of leadership from positional power to the ability to inspire and motivate through positive influence. Based on my personal experience as a leader for more than 3 decades and from my observation of other leaders, these are some ways by which leaders can improve and strengthen their influence over their people.

BUILD STRONG RELATIONSHIPS – Invest time getting to know your team members personally. Show genuine interest in their well-being, concerns, and aspirations. When people feel valued and understood, they are more likely to be influenced by your ideas and direction. One management guru explained that we all have our emotional bank accounts (EBA) with each of the people we deal with. Each time you do an act of kindness/goodness towards a person, you are making a deposit. On the other hand, you are making a withdrawal for each wrong doing. How a leader is able to influence someone may depend on the status of his EBA with that person. You have to continue making goodwill so you’ll have enough to withdraw from when needed. When all else fails, it’s your relationship that matters. They may forget all the things you’ve done for the organization -programs, projects and incentives, but they will never forget how you have emotionally touched them. How have you been depositing to your emotional bank account with others?

LEAD BY EXAMPLE: The younger generations look for mentors and coaches. Demonstrate the behavior and values you want others to emulate. Actions speak louder than words, so strive to embody integrity, accountability, and dedication in everything you do. When you consistently model the behavior you expect, others are more likely to follow suit. If you expect your members to do daily prospecting of clients; you should show that you’re also doing daily prospecting of clients or recruits. If you want them to reach for a certain production level, they would most likely go for it when they see that you have done it yourself. Walk your talk.

COMMUNICATE EFECTIVELY: Master the art of communication by listening actively, speaking clearly, and conveying your ideas productively. Be mindful of your messaging in a way that it would resonate with your team members. Effective communication fosters understanding, builds trust, and enhances your ability to influence others. The younger generations want to be informed, included and updated. They want clarity and transparency from their leaders. Communication is the key.

ADOPT, ADAPT, ADJUST: Recognize that influence is not one-size-fits-all, and adapt your approach to different situations and personalities. What works for the earlier generations may not work with the younger ones. Since you may probably have different generations all within your team, you must be more flexible. We are also operating now in an ecosystem which is fast moving. There are always new and better way of doing things. Status quo and the traditional ways are being challenged. As leaders, we have to be the channel of change, game changers. When members see that you welcome, embrace and are comfortable with change, you will be in a better position to influence them.

BUILD YOUR BRAND: A leader is most likely to influence people who trust and believe them. They would follow and support a trusted brand. As leaders, we have our own branding. Do they see honesty, credibility, and sincerity in the brand? Will they be proud to be associated with your brand? But what makes your brand? It’s the values you stand for, your standards, the way your carry yourself, the way you talk. All these create your brand. Your brand of leadership either attracts or turns away people. Your brand attracts people of your own kind and turns away people who aren’t. Are you happy with your brand?

Leadership is challenging and stressful if you’re doing it wrong. But it can be the most rewarding and fulfilling role when you do it right. But let’s be mindful that you have the power and the choice to do it right and make impactful influence over the people around you.

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