Influencing Skills: 10 Characteristics That Improve Leadership

I was raised to believe I could become whatever I bothered to learn. No single idea has served me better. What do you consider to be the most important end result of a leader? My answer is influencing skills, hands down. Finding leadership characteristics to improve influence is one area of consistency interest to me.

Check out our thoughts on team leverage.

A great quote can provide personal inspiration and can be used to educate others. We like to open most of our blogs with an enlightening quotation that relates to the topic. This one is a real favorite.

Here is a short video on the leadership lessons from first follower.

Before we continue, let me ask you a question. 

What leadership characteristic is your strength? We would love to hear what it was. Would you do us a favor and post it in the comments section below? Be the one who starts a conversation.

With the advent of the Internet, the number of marketing options available to both budding and experienced entrepreneurs has become staggering.

Ever wondered how the best leaders handle distinguishing their leadership characteristics so effortlessly? The truth is, most highly successful people do stumble, worry, and doubt themselves, just like the rest of us. But they are very good at mastering the way they are perceived.

I have been in the military and business world for forty years and often get asked what I believe are the most important leadership characteristics. It takes time and practice to be a top line leader. You are not borne with leadership behaviors. And you are never done developing them.

My experience leads me to this list of xx business leadership characteristics that most successful leaders all share. They rank as the most significant to success as a leader in my perspective.

If you want to be a better leader, work on continuously distinguishing this list:

Show commitment

People believe in those leaders that stand strong through adversity and continuously show their commitment.

Inspire and motivate

No matter how good you are, you will only be as successful as your team. So, getting the most from each team member is critical. We call this being a multiplier leader.

Multiplier leaders know the importance of bringing out the smarts and capabilities in everyone around them. Great leaders inspire motivation and learning.  They create environments where learners feel empowered, impassioned, and engaged.

Psychological priming

People often forget the things you tell them but they will always remember the way you made them feel. Do you know the 3 most powerful emotions to use with team interactions? I believe they are happiness, power, and aspiration. You can never go wrong when using these emotions when priming your team.

Related: The Zen of Abraham Lincolns Leadership Lessons

Act in face of change

Many people don’t do well with change. They do favorably respond to leaders who act when faced with the need for change and who explain the need for the change.

Foster collaboration and team self-esteem

We have written on employee attitude and engagement on several occasions. Employee attitude is so critical that it can’t be overemphasized. It trickles down from employers. Your business can never be what it can be if you don’t focus on employee happiness.

Leaders should make employees feel good about themselves. It is something all people crave. Constantly criticizing and pointing out the flaws in an employee is a sure fire way to decrease morale and performance.

Influencing skills … character

People take notice of those who do what is right over what is easy.  Good character will always shine through, won’t it?

Vision

 People need leaders who communicate a clear and compelling vision of the future.

Encourage work – learn balance

People always put more confidence in those who continually expand their skills and talents. Especially those who share their know-how in these new talents. Always encourage your team to expand their learning and give them some time to do so.

Your capacity for leadership influence expands in direct proportion to your commitment to lifelong learning.

Influencing skills tips … guide talent and teamwork

Coach your teams and develop their future paths. People respond favorably to leaders offering help. People love working as part of great teams. They appreciate leaders who coach teamwork and develop their future paths.

Influencing skills exercises … demonstrate compassion

People put faith in those who are the most beyond themselves.

 Does your job just happen to you?

If you’re a willing cog in the vast machinery of the work environment, it’s entirely possible that the things that occur all day feel like they’re being done to you.

The alternative is to take the initiative to create a job where you create forward motion, where you do things to the job, not the other way around.

Take a look at the language you use to describe what happened at work yesterday, that’s your first clue. If you’re not the one leading the change, perhaps it’s time to start.

Always remember that true leadership is the ability to lead while being led.

Need some help in capturing more improvements for your staff’s leadership, teamwork, and collaboration? Creative ideas in running or facilitating a team or leadership workshop?

All you get is what you bring to the fight. And that fight gets better every day you learn and apply new ideas.

When things are not what you want them to be, what’s most important is your next step.

Test. Learn. Improve. Repeat.

Are you devoting enough energy to innovating your social media strategy?

Do you have a lesson about making your advertising better you can share with this community? Have any questions or comments to add in the section below?

Digital Spark Marketing will stretch your thinking and your ability to adapt to change.  We also provide some fun and inspiration along the way. 

More leadership material from Digital Spark Marketing’s Library:

Build an Effective Team by Being a Talent Hound

Secrets to Becoming a Remarkably Mindful Leader

Mike Schoultz is a digital marketing and customer service expert. With 48 years of business experience, he consults on and writes about topics to help improve the performance of small business. Find him on  Facebook, Twitter, Digital Spark Marketing, and LinkedIn.