IInfluencing

I have been running a number of influences and persuading courses for a client. Someone asked me what this means (and was I doing it to them). The answer was no and it started me to think about the link between success in cans and influence. The immediate connection is how successful people don't worry about concerns - they use influence.

Stephen Covey in Seven Habits of Highly Effective People introduced the concept of Circles of Concern and Circles of Influence. At the heart of the concept is moving from dealing with things we are concerned about to working on things we can do.

How this works is to look at the challenges you currently face and assess how you are responding to the challenge. Are you operating from your circle of concern or circle of influence? Great if you are working on the influence circle. If you are working on concern - how could you shift? What CAN you do?

An example is being concerned about current economic situation - easy to be concerned - will I have enough work coming in? To move from concern to influence what CAN I do? Here is a list:

• Contact my network of contacts and find out if there are any opportunities
• Issue newsletter
• Do something helpful for clients
• Follow-up on meeting a new contact at courses with additional information on the subject in question
• Ensure I have my business cards to hand

By doing so, I am certain that I will be growing my circle of influence.