15 Key Characteristics of Influential People
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Do you want to be viewed as an influencer in your organization or profession? First, you need to realize that you don’t get to decide that you are an influential person. It’s up to other people to decide if they want to allow themselves to be influenced by you. The first step in learning how to cultivate influence lies with considering key behaviors and characteristics of people who tend to be viewed as influential and focusing on developing them within yourself.

15 Building Blocks of Influence

While there isn’t a magic formula you can follow that will turn you into an influencer, you can certainly strive to conduct yourself in a manner that may inspire others to be willing to be influenced by you. Influential professionals typically come across to others as people who exhibit behaviors and characteristics such as:

1.High degree of integrity

2.Confident (without coming across as arrogant)

3.Expertise specific to their occupation and/or industry

4.Passionate about their work

5.Well-connected with respected individuals/leaders/influencers

6.Proactive in asking others what they think

7.Focused on leveraging support

8.Willing to allow other people to have input

9.Focused on ‘big picture’ best interests (as opposed to promoting their own agenda)

10.Respectful of other people’s concerns

11.Willing to take chances

12.Open to learning

13.Persuasive communicators

14.Empathic listeners

15.Maintains relationships (i.e., maintain consistent relationships as opposed to reaching out only when you want something)

Starting Point for Cultivating Influence

While these behaviors and characteristics aren’t the only elements that play a role in whether or not an individual is seen to have influence, they definitely play an important role. It would be very difficult to be viewed as an influencer without being seen as someone whose personality and demeanor is defined by these things. If you wish to become more of an influencer, start by focusing on these key building blocks, and then continue to grow and develop in positive ways throughout your career.