Influencing

Create an influence map

15 minutes

The first step to influence what people think, how they behave or even change their attitudes is to build the relationship through connection. It’s all about learning how people think, what’s important to them, and how they communicate.

“Influence mapping” is a visual exercise that helps you identify relationships where you can build influence in your workplace. The aim is to give you a clearer picture of which relationships already exist and where the gaps are. With that, a clear direction is then established, allowing you to see where and how you can foster new relationships, enrich current ones, and rekindling old connections.

Not sure if it’s for you? Did you know that neuroscience research shows that the people who intentionally develop their formal and informal influence networks are the ones who perform the best professionally? It’s those people who connect and collaborate who not only gain the respect and trust of their peers, but they are also more productive.

Download our Influencing Map to intentionally widen your circle of influence, or identify and build relationships with key stakeholders in your organisation.

Instructions:

Conduct a stakeholder analysis

Identify and understand the main stakeholders you need to influence. List them in the first column of the downloadable template for a structured approach.

Outline your relationship strategy

List your approach in how you plan to build each relationship. This can be through coffee, an informal meeting, or even a quick catch-up.

Map what's important to them

Recognising what's important to someone helps in understanding their perspective. This leads to more empathetic interactions and stronger relationships.

Identify their communication style

Knowing how someone communicates allows you to present ideas and arguments in a manner that is more likely to be persuasive and influential to that individual.

Plan to maintain the relationship

Influence is largely based on trust. By maintaining a relationship, you cultivate a sense of trust and reliability. People are more likely to be influenced by those they trust and consider credible.

Tip: Revisiting your map on a regular basis will help you become more effective as work, projects and roles evolve.

Sources

Boost Lab Team. (2015, June 1). How to map our you network of influence. Boost Labs. https://smallbusiness.chron.com/benefits-boundaries-workplace-10748.html

Hellomonday