Recognizing your Influence

What power do I have?

When confronted with the question “Why can’t you?” many come out with such rhetorical responses as “What can I do, I am only one person” or “What power do I have”. Whilst we have all have resorted to such notions of insignificance, wholeheartedly no one should believe they amount to ‘nothing’ which is the conclusion denoted from such phrases.

Given the task of convincing someone whilst simultaneously believing that you have no influence would not only be detrimental to your task at hand, but as a result of that feeling it would be totally contradictory to even attempt it. For that reason, having faith in your ability to influence others is intrinsically linked to the fundamentals of having ‘real’ influence. Of taking charge of your life and dictating the goals and challenges you set yourself, and more importantly of achieving them.

Can you control your Influence?

Think for a moment. Every possible thing you do has an influence of some sort when we take into account the law of cause and effect. Which links a series of never-ending chain of events to one another. Much like the Big-Bang which has been described as what started our universe 16 billion years ago. One single event is all it took, well a rather humungous one.

Lets think of the smallest action of say your great-great grandfathers dog scratching at the door, requesting to be let out. Obliging to the whim of a canine’s full bladder that is yearning to urinate in the neighbour’s garden, he decides to take an afternoon amble. And whom should he come across but your future great-great grandmother. Which leads to a hypothetical ‘you’ reading this very sentence.

Whilst I have gone off track a bit and discussed a pet’s influence on the future generations of a family, it nonetheless serves to illustrate the interesting world we reside in, and the significance of the law of cause and effect.

The above ventures more into the realms of uncontrollable influence and the unforeseen effects of this. We will now focus on controllable influence.

How do you increase your influence?

Everything you say to someone is heard, processed and taken on board. Whether it is processed consciously or subconsciously it is influential. However slight or grand these influences, they are nonetheless influential to their thoughts, emotions & actions. You should be constantly aware of this. We do have great power.

Now you ask, how do you amplify your influence?

• Your influence on others will be severely limited if you don’t fully appreciate the scope of your ability. It is your responsibility to internalise the notion that you do have influence. Say aloud. “I have an enormous power. I recognize that my affect on the surrounding environment is great”.

• In many cases the greater your emotional bond with someone the greater your influence will be. They will undoublty have greater trust in you. And will be more likely to take on board advice you give them. It is your responsibility to use your influence with care. However do not underestimate you abilities to heavily influence a complete stranger.

• Maximize your audience. The more people you reach, the greater your overall effect will be.

• If people do not remember what you do or what you say, they will remember how you make them feel.