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Stop for a moment and consider who and how you influence –
- Your staff and/or fellow workers
- Your family (spouse, children)
- Associates in your professional association, or Rotary, BNI, Executive Connection or similar
- Your buddies down at the local watering hole, RSL or country club
- The people in your church
- Your customers
Do you create a lasting impression (influence)? Is it good or bad?
Do they mutter under their breath when they see you coming because of ethical or moral inconsistencies or questionable business practices and the “black cloud of negativity and depression” that seems to follow you
Or
Do they see you as someone that is a bright “star” in their day or week and always feel better, lighter, and happier for having come in contact with you?
I know this is an oversimplification, but you get the idea?
We all know people who fall into one camp or the other.
And I’m guessing that it is not your preference to hang around people who have “bad influence”.
Yeah, but Paul, you just don’t know how narcissistic and bullying my boss is.
You’re right I don’t.
Yet one thing I know you can choose to stay or go. You do not need to put up with that sort of behaviour from a boss or colleagues. Sure try and address it, but failing that believe in yourself and go and get yourself another job or get rid of that business partner who is pulling you down or, worse still, “ripping off the business”.
Key principle:
“Unfortunately when the way things look is what matters, the way things truly are will not be addressed.” William Ford III
If you look closely you can always pick signs of a culture or environment in which “influence” is sought or exercised with the wrong motives. You know the deal, the “celebrities” (or wanna-be celebrities), for example:
- Use their influence to benefit themselves; even their charitable works are self-serving
- Entertain people by saying what they want to hear
- Are swayed by public preferences and compromise
- Surround themselves with yes-men and entourages (instead of honest counsellors and truthful mentors)
- Hire public relations firms to hype and protect their reputations
- “Use” people to serve their authority
- Are always trying to impress society’s somebodies.
- Are focused only on building their own empires.
Source: adapted from “Created for Influence” by William Ford III, 2007, P45-47.
Hmmm? Do you know anyone like that? (Maybe the person you see when you look in the mirror?)
What are you going to do about it?
You see I believe that you (and me) make choices every minute of every day that contribute to the type of influence that we will have in our lifetime and (without being presumptuous) into future generations.
Some call this a “legacy”.
So, as you begin 2010, will you choose to create a positive, negative or no “legacy”?
It is my hope that you will join with me in creating a positive legacy within your sphere of influence.
Because you and me – we can make a difference!
PS: If you are challenged by these thoughts I encourage you to invest in a copy of the book “Created for Influence” by William Ford III as it will help you explore and develop these issues deeper than the treatment I can give them in this article.
PPS: For those of you who may be thinking this seems a little too abstract, let me remind you that what you sow you reap and it is in this context that using our influence in the right way is not only a good thing to do, it is just good business sense and good for the bottom line!
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