Eight Steps To Positive Influence

Illustration by Ajda Gregorčič

We are persuaded by people we like

Spend time getting to know someone before asking a favour. The more they like you or feel you have something in common, the more likely they are to agree.

If you want a favour – do a favour

Do someone a good deed and they’ll want to return the favour.

First ask for something small

If you just made a good connection, don’t gamble it away by asking for too much too soon.

Stick to your commitment

Once we’ve made a commitment it’s important to our sense of self-esteem to stick to it.

Invited To A Party? Be Yourself And Enjoy The Fun.

Image by corena

Are you uncomfortable entering a room full of people, feeling as if they’re all checking you out and talking about you? This is called the spotlight effect and apparently, according to research, people typically pay about half as much attention to you as you think they do.

So you mustn’t worry, the spotlight effect exists only in your mind and you have the power to redirect it.

At any social event set yourself small practical tasks:

The Case Of The Opinionated Mind

We are all opinionated, or are we? I used to be quite carefree about revealing my opinions, not giving much thought to whether they would put me in trouble or make me look like a difficult person. This is especially tricky in the workplace.

It’s quite a task to identify which colleagues you can be open with and with whom you have to be careful to ‘wrap’ your comments, so to speak.