“Once you are in a position of leadership, your job is no longer to control the work; it’s to influence it.” – Todd Henry
So, what exactly is leading by influence? Leading by influence is about spending less time telling people how to do their work and more time showing them how to think about it.
From the start, it’s important to set up some guiding principles so your workforce can figure out what successful work looks like instead of guessing at it.
Your goal should be to help them learn how to recognize a good idea without waiting for your approval, and how to handle conflicts/challenges on their own instead of always needing you to step in.
At its core, influential leadership is about inspiring and motivating your team to become solution focused. Rather than micromanaging every task, influential leaders create a vision and a space to come up with solutions (without fear of judgment), communicate effectively, and build trust within their teams.
Key Characteristics of Influential Leaders:
- Visionary Thinking: Influential leaders have a clear vision of what they want to achieve and can convey this vision compellingly to their team.
- Empathy and Communication: They understand the value of active listening and empathetic communication, ensuring every team member feels valued and heard.
- Solution Focus: The leader and their team become skilled at identifying solutions instead of moving in endless circles.
- Empowerment: By empowering team members, leaders encourage ownership and accountability, leading to increased motivation and performance.
The Leadership Transition
Moving from a control-oriented approach to influential leadership requires a shift in mindset and skills. It involves letting go of the need to oversee every detail and instead focusing on strategic guidance and support.
Steps to Navigate the Transition:
- Self-Assessment: Reflect on your leadership style and identify areas for growth. What practices can you adopt to become more influential? The Winslow Assessment is a helpful tool for identifying your areas for growth and development.
- Build Trust: Develop strong relationships with team members by being transparent, open, and reliable. The DISC assessment will aide in communication between individuals, leadership, and team members.
- Delegate Effectively: Trust your team to handle tasks independently. Delegating not only empowers your team but also frees you to focus on strategic planning.
- Foster a Growth Mindset: Encourage continuous learning and development within your team to adapt to new challenges and innovations.
Strategies to Empower Your Workforce:
- Provide Autonomy: Allow team members the freedom to explore solutions and take ownership of their work.
- Encourage Collaboration: Foster a collaborative environment where team members can share ideas and support each other.
- Recognize and Reward: Acknowledge achievements and provide constructive feedback to sustain motivation and engagement.
Leadership is not about controlling work; it’s about influencing it in meaningful ways. By transitioning to an influential leadership style, you can effectively inspire your team to reach new heights. Remember, your role as a leader is to create a supportive environment where both the individuals and the organization can thrive.
The question is, where in your work are you trying to control things instead of influence, and how will you learn to let go?
