Being proficient in influencing others is one of the most important skills a manager should acquire. The responsibility of a manager is to be able to interlink itself between the higher and lower people of its organization. Managers need to understand that Influencing is about understanding oneself and the effect or impact one have on others. He/she should be able to communicate in a manner that will be influenced by the Board, Senior Management, Peers, Teams and Customers. Not every human being is good at influencing, so not all managers. There are various key skill sets of the effective influencer. Managers need to adopt strategies that will make your words have an extra impact and force.
Everyone from the Board of Directors to the employee on the loading dock, to customers and community leaders, have expectations for individuals in leadership roles; the higher the position, the greater the expectations. A combination of business savvy, leadership, confidence, competence, and social acumen project an image of someone who should be taken seriously and who has the ability to influence others. Managers must become very adept at using their ability to influence others not by title or authority; but, by professional magnetism to motivate others to positively shape and attain the desired outcome needed for organizational success.