10 Influence Strategies To Implement in the Workplace
Accomplishing tasks in the workplace often requires leaders to influence others. Successfully influencing others may help you increase productivity and improve workplace morale. Understanding the different influence strategies available can help you choose the best way to persuade your team members. In this article, we define strategic influence, explain why it’s important and list 10 different influence strategies to consider using.
What is strategic influence?
Strategic influence is the thoughtful method of persuading people to perform tasks or behave in a specific way. It’s an essential aspect of professional success, as an individual can often accomplish their objectives more successfully when implementing some sort of influence. Employees, team leaders and managers may adopt different forms of strategic influence based on who they’re trying to persuade.
Why is it important to develop influence strategies?
It’s important to develop influence strategies because they can help you increase productivity in the workplace. They may allow you to acquire funding for projects, obtain necessary resources, reduce project-related risks and negotiate contracts. One influence strategy may work better than another with a specific group of people, so it’s essential to develop ones that are useful in your specific work environment.
10 influence strategies to try in the workplace
Here’s a list of 10 influence strategies you can try in the workplace:
1. Tactical influence
Tactical influence is a short-term strategy for persuading others to complete a specific objective. This strategy involves gaining temporary support, and it can involve several methods. For instance, you may do someone a favor, hoping to receive something in return. You can also acquire the support of a senior-level person in your organization and use their approval to persuade others to support you.
2. Self-help-based influence
Self-help-based influence involves convincing people that listening to you can benefit them. This strategy often appeals to people who want to improve their physical, emotional or mental well-being. It may also be effective if you can convey that taking a specific action can help someone advance professionally.
3. Reverse influence
Reverse influence, which some people call reverse psychology, is the process of trying to convince individuals to do something by telling them not to do it. For instance, you might tell someone you don’t think a particular idea is possible. In reality, you believe in the idea and want them to consider it, and the practice of telling them you don’t think it’s possible may encourage the person to attempt it.
4. Situational influence
Situational influence involves leveraging your knowledge as a professional in comparison to the skills and abilities of the people you want to persuade. This process can help you discover how much influence you may have over a group of people. It can also help you prepare for a presentation or meeting and recognize your relative authority within an organization.
5. Impact influence
Impact influence involves presenting an idea in a memorable or interesting way. People may appreciate the presenter’s passion and be more likely to do what they want. Individuals may also remember the idea and advocate for its implementation in the future.
6. Logical influence
Logical influence involves the use of facts and reason to convince someone to do something. This practice is often effective in more formal situations. Leaders who use this strategy may combine it with other strategies to appeal to individuals’ emotions instead of relying solely on factual information.
7. Empowerment influence
Empowerment influence is a strategy in which a leader includes all employees in the decision-making process. This practice can make employees feel important and let them know that a leader values their input.
8. Bargaining influence
Bargaining influence is the process of formally negotiating an outcome that’s beneficial to both parties involved. Both parties can suggest compromises and accept terms they agree are fair. This strategy gives both parties equal influence in certain matters.
9. Common vision influence
Common vision influence involves the idea of collectivism. This means focusing on how your idea can benefit the entire organization, not just the individuals within it. This strategy often works well with well-established companies that have positive workplace cultures.
10. Enforcement influence
Enforcement influence involves the use of verbal or written reprimands to encourage others to complete the desired action. It involves delivering reprimands with a neutral perspective to inform an employee to correct their behavior. Enforcement can be effective when an employer needs to implement a new policy and help employees adapt to new procedures.