Journey to Leadership — Lead with Influence
As a leader, there are two ways to get things done. You can command people to do it and they may do it because they have to. Or, you can have them want to do it. The latter is the only sustainable and scalable way. Its the way of leadership through influence. “Leadership is influence. Nothing more and nothing less”, says John Maxwell emphatically. A dictionary definition for influence is “the capacity to have an effect on the character, development, or behavior of someone or something, or the effect itself”. And how you make this happen is leadership.
To truly grasp the essence of leading through influence, it’s essential to juxtapose it with its counterpart — leading through authority. Often, there’s a misconception that the only path to leadership involves securing a specific rank, position, or title that grants authority, allowing for a “command and control” approach. There are many drawbacks to this perspective. Primarily, if your conception of leadership revolves around titles, your actions may solely focus on climbing the corporate or organizational hierarchy. While ideally, these positions should be earned through merit, reality often differs. Even if you do attain such a position, it doesn’t guarantee people will willingly follow you. In this paradigm, individuals follow merely for a paycheck and only during office hours. If you’ve ever encountered a situation where you’ve requested someone to stay back for urgent work, only to hear “Sorry, time’s up,” you’ve encountered the inherent limitations of leading through position or title. But what if you never attain that coveted position or title? Must it mean you cannot lead effectively or make a meaningful impact?
The most sustainable approach to leadership, one that isn’t reliant on titles or formal authority, is leading through influence. While having a title can be beneficial, even if you possess the authority, it’s wise to prioritize influence over it and use authority sparingly, if at all. In essence, whether or not you hold a title, leading with influence is the key
But what does it mean to lead with influence? It means having followers who genuinely want to follow you, not because they have to but because they respect and admire you. They exhibit loyalty, and they value your guidance. In this style of leadership, you might not hold a formal title, yet you possess the power to influence even those who do. You can seamlessly traverse organizational boundaries, achieving results because others don’t perceive you as a threat to their positions
How do you lead with influence? Here are a few ways:
- Develop a Purpose: A clear purpose defines your “Why”. What do you stand for? Why do you do what you do?
- Connect with People: Leadership is all about people. Build relationships with them. Show them that you care. Theodore Roosevelt said, “People don’t care how much you know, unless they know how much you care”
- Develop your Character: Embrace good values. Focus on authenticity, integrity and honesty. Define your non-negotiables. What lines will you not cross? Character is the foundation of leadership.
- Develop Self Discipline: This entails doing the right things, especially when you don’t feel like doing it. You have to build good habits.
Consider Mahatma Gandhi who led India’s freedom movement primarily with moral authority rather than formal titles. His principles of nonviolence and civil disobedience inspired millions to join the struggle for independence. Or Nelson Mandela, who became a symbol of resistance and reconciliation in South Africa. His influence extended far beyond his prison cell and eventually led to the end of apartheid. These individuals, among many others, exemplify the idea that leadership can emerge from a deep sense of purpose, moral conviction, and the ability to inspire and influence others, regardless of formal titles or positions.
Leading with influence is an ongoing journey that demands unwavering commitment and a deep sense of self-awareness. You have to genuinely care about the people you lead. You show that you care by adding value to them daily, in various meaningful ways. You have to do that with integrity and honesty which builds trust. When you have their trust, you have influence with them. Influence is the currency that makes people want to follow you. When people want to follow, you can move mountains.
And you can do that without a position, rank or title.
Here’s a video that summarizes this:
