“Leadership is influence, nothing more, nothing less.” – John Maxwell
As a doctoral candidate in leadership, I believe that influence is the true value of leadership. In this article, I share five practical steps for achieving leadership influence:
1️⃣ Step 1: Make the decision to influence
Determine that you want to make a clear impact.
Choose the type of impact you want to have (on people, services, or growth).
Plan the initiatives, projects, and people who will play a role in achieving this impact.
2️⃣ Step 2: Clarify your impact goals.
Ask yourself: “Why do I want to achieve this impact?”
Define your desired outcomes and the change it will bring about.
Link impact to team vision and organizational goals.
3️⃣ Step 3: Set time goals
Select when you want to see the effect.
Develop a clear plan that includes implementation basics and timelines.
4️⃣ Step Four: Implementation and Appropriate Behavior
Put your ideas into action and start doing the actual work.
Identify the resources or support you may need from others to achieve success.
5️⃣ Step Five: Measuring Success Criteria
Decide what constitutes success for this effect.
Use tools such as surveys, team feedback, or productivity measures to continually evaluate success and sustainability of impact.
Influence is not just a leadership skill, it is the mark you leave as a leader on the lives of others and the success of organizations.
Dr. Salwa Al-Hallafi
