You need to develop competence and trustworthiness in order to have influence in the workplace. People want to see you are someone they can rely on and feel comfortable working by your side.
If you want to really be influential, then there are two extremes to avoid. First is that you act out too aggressively, and second, and on the other end of the spectrum, if you don’t speak up and never do anything for your co-workers. If people will only see one of these two extremes with you, then they will not get to see the real you.
You then need to find the middle ground. You need to be confident, connect, and be consistent. With these traits you will have influence in the workplace and you will receive the credit that you deserve.
Here are some tips in gaining more influence in the workplace and advancing your career.
Body language is very important in influencing people. People watch our body language all the time. Your shoulders should be put back, your head and chin up and your hands on your side. This shows your confidence and your friendliness. If this is what is read in your body language, then it can help give you more influence in the workplace.
It is sometimes difficult to say no to other people. However, it is not always good to say yes and there are times that you need to say no to other. You say yes if it is for the more important goals. Saying yes to other people’s requests will depend on the amount of available time you have. If you are a nice person, you sometimes say yes to everyone without realizing that you will not be able to complete everything on time, especially the more important projects. Goals will be lost in your mind if you always say yes to people. Prioritize your goals so you will know when to say yes and when to say no to people.
Listening to others is a sure way of getting the trust of people. Listen intently without being distracted. If you learn to build up your coworkers then you will become a trusted person. If you see people with great skills and traits in the workplace, then you should give them genuine compliments and praises. Read more here to learn about workplace trust building.
Producing consistent results can results in increased trust in your abilities by your superiors and colleagues. If you show results, then this will matter greatly in the kind of environment you are working in. If you work is subpar, even your good behavior in the office won’t matter.
It is important to enhance your skill set. Take time to read books, watch videos, and do research to widen your knowledge of your field. You can also ask someone to mentor you.
You can help yourself grow if you gain influence in the workplace. This takes cultivating a positive place to work.