Rainmaker Top Tips for influencing people

• Look to develop rapport with the person to be influenced

  Deliberately try to find two areas of common ground between the two of you
  Establish in yourself a generally relaxed and positive attitude to others.
  

• Be comfortable with the way that you do things.

  Say to yourself  "I am enough.
  I can cope with anything that this person may come up with"
  
  

• Share your objectives

  Admit your fallibility. If it's appropriate, share your feelings.
  Aim for a positive outcome for both of you during each communication.
  
  

• Smile and hold eye contact.

  Practice good, supportive, non-verbal behaviour.
  Remember names and use them wherever possible.
  
  

• Be a good listener. 

    See our earlier note on the 4 level of listening
  Concentrate 100 % on the person talking.
  Do NOTHING ELSE at the same time.
  

• Listen more and speak less.

      Ask questions and actually listen to the answers.
  
  

• Use a pause as a buffer .

  "Parrot Phrase" (Repeat in their words)
   Repeat back to check understanding, and help people feel ‘heard’.
  
  

• Be empathetic rather than sympathetic at work.

• If trying to influence colleagues

  Focus on their behaviours and attitudes.
  Don’t delve into personalities and values.
  Think about the positive aspects of this person as you address the issue you want to change.
  This will have you exhibit positive verbal communications and non-verbal signs to support the communication.
  Be very specific when bringing up the undesirable behaviours or actions that you want them to change.
  Encourage an understanding of how their undesirable behaviour impacts on others or the organisation
  Be clear about what it is you want the person to change and why.
  
  Have a good time influencing people