One
way to become more effective is to make the transition from being a positional
leader to being an influential
leader. Positional leaders are people who only lead because of their title
or position. True leadership is getting people inspired because of who you are,
not what job is listed on your business cards. Influential leaders can motivate
through action, not title. It is important to know which type of leader you
are.
Positional Leaders Often Lack the Human Touch
Positional
leaders depend on their title, power or position to influence people and get
them to listen to them. Because they have not developed the traits required to
lead others, they are leaders in name only. They draw their importance from their job title instead of their job performance. Positional
leaders simply don’t have the human touch when it comes to recognizing others’
goals, needs and motivations – and are therefore less effective, and in some
cases, completely ineffective.
Influential Leaders Draw Others In
On
the other hand, influential leaders are powerful, whether or not they have real
power. They tend to be natural leaders, whom others go to for help, advice or
just to have a question answered. Influential leaders are connectors who make
those around them work harder. They tend to seek consensus, value others’
opinions and listen intently when someone is speaking. Finally, influential
leaders draw people in, and are open to their ideas.
Influential
leaders care about their work. Howard Schultz, founder and CEO of Starbucks
returned to his position when the company began to struggle. Under his
leadership, the company once again began to flourish. Schultz further
exemplified influential
leadership when he led over 140 top American executives to boycott
contributing campaign funds to incumbents. Though these executives didn’t work
for Schultz and were just as powerful in position, he was able to influence
them.
Which Type of Leader Are You?
There
are specific traits that can help you define your leadership style. Positional
leaders tend to feel defensive when others’ opinions differ from theirs. They
feel as though they should be more influential than others based on their
higher position within the company. They are not always receptive to hearing
ideas from lower level employees.
Influential
leaders love giving credit where credit is due. They are big on collaboration
and open to hearing the opinions of their team. Someone who is willing to
mentor a young employee is most likely an influential leader.
To
test what sort of leader you are, think back to the last time that you were
complimented on the work of your team. Did you take all of the credit or praise
everyone’s hard work? Positional leaders might feel that they deserve the
credit simply because they were in charge. Influential leaders would feel proud
of what the entire team accomplished. Fortunately, with some effort, positional
leaders can develop into influential leaders.
Four Ways to Become an Influential Leader
· Gain Respect By Giving Respect
Influential leaders give
respect and are highly respected; positional leaders struggle to earn respect.
So first, assess how much respect you demonstrate to others in the workplace.
Do you respect your direct reports as much as you respect your boss? If not,
you can be sure they know that. Focus on giving everyone the same respect you
give your superiors.
· Your Actions Speak Louder Than Your Words
Remember that your employees
are watching you, even when you think they are not. Someone will notice when
you take the time to say a few thoughtful words to an employee who’s having a
tough time. Someone will see you holding a door open for the person behind you.
Someone will most certainly notice when you cut someone off in the company
parking lot. When you have the opportunity to do the right thing, by all means
do it – and not just because you hope someone’s watching.
· Build Trust By Being Responsible
Earning the trust of your
employees is essential to being an influential leader. Trust is built when you
clearly mean what you say, do what you say you’re going to do, and take
responsibility for both – even when your words or actions turn out to be wrong.
· Tell the Truth
Credibility is an undeniable
trait of an influential leader. Whether you are selling a product, pitching a
new idea, or motivating your employees to a higher level of performance, your
audience needs to believe that you are telling the truth. Most people are
simply bad liars – so to avoid completely losing your credibility, always tell
the truth.
Make
the effort to become an influential leader, and you will make it happen. You’ll
earn the respect of your employees – and even more important – you’ll feel
their respect. If you’ve been a positional leader thus far, the transition may
take some time. Luckily, it will be well worth your effort, as you watch your
team flourish under your influential leadership.
Ryan Sauer is a writer and editor for Bisk
Education in association with University Alliance. He actively writes about
project management and organizational
leadership with a goal of helping
professionals succeed in leadership
training.
