In my experience, professionals that earn influence across their careers have built genuine and generous relationships with others. In particular, I’ve noticed seven behaviors that go a long way in explaining the origin of their influence.
Adopt these behaviors, and just watch how your influence will grow:
Give proactively: People with influence display initiative. They act before others even recognize the need to act, and in many cases, they act with the purpose of helping others. As one college dean said in explaining the upward arc of her career, “Several times in my career, I answered the phone when no one else wanted to.”
Genuinely care: These are professionals who develop a vested interest in the success of others. They have an authentic way of demonstrating genuine care for outcomes. While someone else might inquire about a colleague’s progress, they are much more likely to ask, “Is there anything I can do to accelerate your results?”
Be relentless in your quest for personal and professional growth: Regardless of how much they know, these folks are constantly looking for opportunities to learn and grow, and - this is extremely important - they want others to grow with them.
People like this are likely to send you a book with a personal note that reads, “I found this to be highly useful and suspect you will feel the same.” Someone else might mention a book in passing; they take the time to obtain it for you and personalize the growth opportunity.
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