The Art of Influential Leadership: How to Inspire and Persuade Others

Everybody can be a leader, but not all leaders have the ability to effectively influence and inspire those around them.

The ability to influence is one of the most powerful and crucial skills anyone can have, especially when handling people. As a leader, your strength lies in your ability to bring people alongside you and inspire them to work towards a shared goal.

While you may excel in your field, real progress within an organisation comes through collaboration. It's not just about individual performance; it's about fostering a team dynamic that drives everyone toward achieving the organisation's vision.

This fundamental skill is known as Powerful Influencing Skills, a core competency of Social and Emotional Intelligence. It involves using effective strategies of persuasion to align others with your vision.

Leaders with powerful influencing abilities are really good at winning people over. They tailor their messages to resonate with the people they are talking with and use strategies, such as indirect influence, to build consensus. As skilled storytellers, they capture attention, sharing insights that keep people engaged and eager to learn more. Their presentations, often orchestrated with impactful moments, leave a lasting impression and inspire action.

The Power of Influential Leadership

According to a study from Gallup, managers who serve as the primary influencers within teams account for 70% of the variance in employee engagement. This demonstrates that leadership significantly impacts how engaged employees feel at work. Engaged employees are more productive, collaborative, and committed to the organisation's goals.

Further, studies show that organisations with high levels of trust in leadership, where leaders align goals and foster transparency, experience up to 76% higher engagement compared to low-trust environments. This level of engagement results in greater performance, lower turnover, and increased overall job satisfaction.

These leaders excel at convincing others and gaining support for their initiatives through subtle yet powerful communication. Their ability to influence elevates them above those who struggle with this skill, as they leave a mark that compels others to follow their lead.
 

A Model of Influential Leadership

A prominent example of influential leadership is Oprah Winfrey. While she is best known as a media personality, Oprah's influence extends far beyond entertainment. Her ability to tell compelling stories and form emotional connections has made her a global force for change, engaging audiences on issues like personal empowerment, education, and mental health.

Oprah's skill in crafting narratives that inspire action demonstrates the power of influential leadership. By strategically using her platform, she persuades and inspires others to join her causes. This ability to build consensus and foster meaningful dialogue has cemented her legacy as a transformational leader.

Her emotional intelligence and influence not only make her a powerful communicator but also a figure who embodies the essence of what it means to lead through influence.

The Contrast: When Influence is Absent

On the other hand, those who lack this competence often struggle to make a positive impact. They may work independently or, at times, against the group, leaving little impression. Their efforts to persuade or convey a vision often fall flat, resulting in alienation rather than connection.

Individuals without influential leadership traits may:

• Work in isolation rather than collaborating with others.
• Fail to leave a lasting or positive impression.
• Struggle to persuade or align others with a shared direction.
• Alienate audiences due to poor communication.
• Have difficulty defending their ideas when challenged.
• Fail to inspire confidence or earn respect.
• Appear opinionated and unengaging.
  
  

Developmental Tips for Building Your Influence

Do you find it challenging to persuade others? Does it seem like your team isn't as engaged or passionate about the vision as you are? If so, here are five key strategies to help you become a more effective and strategic influencer—someone who is able to inspire through words and actions without imposing on others:

Develop Rapport

Building rapport is foundational to influence. When people trust and feel connected to you, they are more likely to be open to your ideas. Spend time getting to know your team members, listening to their concerns, and showing genuine interest in their perspectives.

Appeal to Motivations

People are driven by different motivators, whether it's recognition, achievement, or a sense of purpose. Understanding what motivates your audience allows you to craft your message in a way that resonates with them on a personal level.

Be Clear and Plan Ahead

Before entering a situation where you need to influence others, be clear about what you want to achieve. Whether it's securing buy-in for a project or fostering a shift in team dynamics, having a well-defined goal helps guide your messaging.

Use Credible Sources and Evidence

Persuasion becomes easier when your arguments are backed by solid evidence. Use data, statistics, and endorsements from credible, respected sources to strengthen your position. This provides logical support for your message, appealing to your audience's rational and emotional sides.

Get Support from a Coach

Working with a coach will be transformative in honing your influencing skills. A coach helps you refine your strategies and provides objective, valuable feedback on how others perceive you. By offering personalised insights, a coach will identify areas where you might improve and guide you in developing your skills, ensuring that your approach aligns with both your goals and the needs of those you lead.

At People Builders, we have expert coaches who can support you on this journey. You can contact us to learn more and get started.

Inspiring Others Through Influence

As a leader, your ability to influence is central to creating lasting change and aligning your team with a shared vision. By building rapport, understanding motivations, and delivering clear, credible messages, you not only enhance your leadership but also inspire genuine commitment from those around you.

While you can force people to act, the quality of the outcome will always be higher when people are motivated from within. As Brian Tracy wisely said, "There is only one way to get anybody to do anything. And that is by making the other person want to do it." When individuals act out of their own desire rather than obligation, their engagement, creativity, and performance rise to new levels.

True influence is about connection, aligning interests, and motivating others to take meaningful action. It's not about forcing results but inspiring a shared purpose.

Are you ready to take the first step toward becoming an influential leader?

We are Here to Help 

At People Builders, we have a team of expert trainers and coaches who will help you and your team develop  Powerful Influencing Skills and many other Social and Emotional Intelligence competencies. Contact us today for a quick chat to see how we can partner with you to train and coach you and your team.