Unleash Your Leadership Superpower: A Playful Guide to Extra-Ordinary Influence

Ever wondered what influence really means? Let's break it down – it's not about political maneuvering but simply having an effect, creating an impact.

Picture a spectrum: positive influence on one side, negative on the other, and yet there is another spectrum, which is neither good nor bad, which I’m calling “flatline influence.” Do you ever consider your influence?

Intention vs Impact

The crux of extraordinary influence lies in the gap between intention and impact. Leaders are posed with a crucial question: What influence or impact do they aim to have on their team? While leaders may have clear intentions, the real litmus test lies in the feedback received – the unfiltered truth revealed in a 360 review. The challenge for leaders is to lean into the space between intention and impact, acknowledging the discrepancy and seeking to understand how to bridge the gap effectively.

Teachability

Beyond being aware, we need to become more and more teachable. To be extra-Ordinary, we must delve into the spaces of intention and impact, eager to learn and grow in order to enhance and engage with our influence.

Humor

The second dimension of extraordinary influence is humor. How can we infuse a bit of laughter into our leadership style, not as banter but to create an environment of psychological safety? Can we be secure enough to laugh at ourselves so that we can create an atmosphere of approachability and connection, the ultimate psychologically safe place to be for ourselves and our teams?

What about integrity and influence?

Whether we are extrovert or introverted leaders (see my previous 2 blogs and videos for more insights on this), we must ensure that our yes is yes and our no is no. Avoiding overpromising and ensuring clear communication adds a layer of trustworthiness to leadership.

As we embark on this journey of extra-Ordinary influence, we are faced with this challenge to navigate the space between intention and impact intentionally, infuse a bit of laughter into our leadership, and uphold unwavering integrity. By doing so, we can elevate our influence from flat-line ordinary to extra-Ordinary, leaving a lasting imprint on our teams and organizations.

If you want to intentionally increase your influence as a leader, get in touch. There are key things to explore and learn that I can help you with. What’s stopping you from creating the impact you need to have?