Social Intelligence is made up of a number of different facets and you can see more about the others in the initial post about the subject. This week though, I’d like to consider Influence, what it means and how you can obtain it and what it might look like for an entrepreneur.
The term Influence, according to to the dictionary means to have power to change another person (or objects) action, behaviour or opinion. According to Daniel Goleman is “shaping the outcome of social interaction”. Which is pretty much the same thing I think. It is evidenced most often in people who are able to resolve disputes in a calm, non-threatening and non-aggressive manner and to have influence requires a combination of self control, empathy as well as social cognition. This is because the outcome of every interaction with another person, or group of people, depends on the following three elements:
- the ability to moderate ones own reaction to a situation
- the ability to read another person or situation accurately
- the ability to understand the underlying social norms associated with the situation
For example, a policeman on duty on a Saturday night in an area of town full of nightclubs and bars needs to understand the inhibition caused by alcohol and a group of peers on a night out together.
So how does Influence extend to business?
Having influence in business would be similar to being the person or organisation everyone refers their client, customers friends and colleagues to when a problem needs solving. Being the recognised leader in a given industry or market sector similarly can confer influence and will often mean that when that person, or company, issue a statement – that it is accepted without question by others who have less influence in the industry.
In fact influence is very much the mark of a leader and is the point at which having social intelligence can cross over into developing as a leader.
For the average entrepreneur, your level of influence will be determined by the number of people that refer to you, and refer people or business to you. You can gain influence in a variety of different ways too:
- You could write articles for journals and periodicals
- You could speak at conferences and industry events
- You could write pamphlets and white papers on matters of importance
- You could simply network at industry events
- You could offer to be a mentor …. to someone who is new to the market
Influence, is something that can only ever be earned, and you earn it by being genuine about who you are and what you do.
