Influencing Stakeholders
Become influential in any line of work
We are constantly consciously or unconsciously influencing or being influenced. Refresh your approach in an open structured way, tailoring the style as needed.
1. Neutral
It sounds obvious, but working from a sense of neutral, physical openness will ground you and help clarify the bigger picture before attempting to influence. Think about how you want to come across as a calm centred individual, passionate and enthusiastic but realistic in your goals. Considering your physicality, your tone of voice and natural open body language will only support your case in influencing.
2. Power
What power do you have? Your personality, your character, your friendship and alignment through working relationships are powerful. Realise what power you have beyond the personal. Even if you feel that you are lacking in positional power, does your objective give you an authority to not only influence down the chain but upwards too?
3. Look for support
Are there colleagues in allegiance, who can assist? Can you gather support to influence even the most resistant? Listen for signals of interest and make people feel they have been genuinely heard and that they are involved.
4. Foot in the door
If the ‘ask’ feels too great, work on the objective in stages. Getting someone to come around to your way of thinking in a gradual way, with realisation of the benefits, is often a good way of ensuring long-term engagement and commitment.
These are some basic tips for successful influencing, but it’s easy to feel that you lack power. Inhabiting belief in the benefits of achieving your objective will focus your language and success in communication.
Visit www.oppositeleg.co.uk for more hints and tips.
David trained as an actor at the Mountview Academy, gaining a 1st class degree in Performance. He trained as a teacher at London South Bank University.
David has studied clowning with Mick Barnfather and ‘Told by an Idiot;’ he has studied NLP with One Training and Alan Margolis of Hampstead Training. He is an experienced practitioner of the Alexander Technique and continues to study Wudang Tai Chi with Sifu Michael Jacques.
David has worked as an actor and director for many touring theatre companies, recently directing a MEN award nominated performance for the Manchester 24:7 theatre festival.
David has over ten years experience teaching drama and performance to adults and young people alike. He is the head of training for City Academy teaching presentation skills, communication skills, voice training, storytelling and acting at Sadlers Wells Theatre and working with a wide variety of business clients.
David worked for 6 highly successful years as a fundraiser and trainer on behalf of many leading charities such as Oxfam, Friends of the Earth and Cancer Research UK.
To Opposite Leg David brings a combination of skills as a performance teacher, with an understanding of how to apply those skills in a business or fundraising environment. He is passionate about the effective use of the body and language in order to have maximum positive impact and is an expert in rapport building and communication skills.
For Opposite Leg David has delivered training in both corporate and public sector settings, working with a broad range of staff from trainee teachers to senior business executives
David is a member of the Corporate Association for Professional Development.