Career Development

Every great employee is eager to prove themselves. Part of that means building a level of influence in the workplace.

Still, whether it’s workplace politics or even your own shyness, it can be tough to make a name for yourself in a company, especially if you have many colleagues. These efforts must be strategically managed, as trying too hard may make others notice you for the wrong reasons.

Building influence in the workplace also takes time, and patience. But what’s the best step-by-step approach to these efforts? How can you build your level of influence in a productive way? You may find some answers to these questions down below.

Strive to be Positive

Positive people can sometimes influence others more easily. It might be that others are more likely to gravitate toward bright and cheerful people, too. While some people dread the working day, others will respond to your efforts well if you’re seen to make the best of it. Even simpler efforts like saying good morning to everyone, learning names, smiling and offering eye contact can all make a big difference.

Of course, positivity doesn’t come naturally to everyone, especially during these more troubled times. It might be something you need to work on progressively, especially by tackling negative self-talk and moving away from perfectionism in your life.

It’s also worth mentioning that positivity doesn’t mean you must make light of serious problems at work. Being positive can mean being a problem-solver, proactively thinking up solutions while others redundantly complain. If you can do that, you may become the colleague people turn to when wrongs need to be righted, allowing you to build your influence further.

Build on Your Performance Constructively

Grit and determination are valuable tools in the workplace. While perfectionists can claim to have these qualities, they often set standards that are too high for themselves and overestimate their capabilities. It’s far easier to build positive influence in the workplace if you’re honest about your shortcomings and realistic about the work required to improve things. It lets colleagues and superiors know that you have a clear, proactive plan for advancing your talent.

A good way to showcase these efforts is by exploring further learning opportunities. Attending conferences related to your industry or embarking on a course proves that you’re willing to take the extra steps necessary to earn your stripes and respect. It’s character building, enabling you to authentically demonstrate your commitment to your role, workplace, and the sector.

Online courses are particularly valuable as they allow you to learn part-time from anywhere. You can also learn to deal with corporate issues, such as managing your team. For example, the London School Of Economics And Political Science Offer An Online Certificate Course that can empower you to understand holistic leadership. You will also develop leadership knowledge and practical skills for related projects and to help you get the most out of your team.

Interact with Other Departments

You can learn many things from training courses. That said, you can also gain valuable lessons from the colleagues around you, too.

While it can be tempting to stick with your team, you must branch out and learn about other areas of the business. Showing interest in other people’s jobs and what they do, even if it’s not strictly related to your role, is a great way to gain influence.

Moreover, some firms are seeking to enhance interconnectivity between departments. It can establish a friendlier work environment, help employees support one another, and create a more cohesive way to run a business. If your workplace is yet to explore this modern way of working, getting ahead of that curve can be a great way to build positive influence in your workplace.

Help Your Colleagues

If you familiarise yourself with other departments, and build relationships with other teams then you’ll be in a better position to help your colleagues. You may be able to better identify when and how they’re struggling.

In certain situations, there should be limits to the type of help you offer. After all, if your colleague is an expert in their field and asks you to do something beyond your know-how, you should politely decline. Otherwise, you may make matters worse and thus adversely affect your level of influence. Know your limits!

Not all forms of help are technically involved, though. Even lending an ear or giving colleagues a boost with a cup of coffee is enough to fast-track a stronger rapport. Employees that devote themselves to pleasing their bosses often draw the ire of their workmates, but if you can evenly distribute your care and attention, you should garner a more well-rounded response to your efforts.

Embrace Volunteer Roles

Volunteering is a great way to go above and beyond in your duties. It can facilitate stronger connections with the world around your business too. Signing up for internal volunteering options may be a great use of your time. Ask your colleagues if they need help, and follow through on your offer to provide some. Even if you’re overseeing recycling measures, energy-saving efforts, or business donations to local charities, it all reflects positively on your intuition. It may also inspire others to follow your example, creating a more caring and empathetic work culture that starts with you.

You can include your colleagues in your efforts too. After all, amazing causes have corporate volunteering programmes, enabling workers to roll up their sleeves and give back to society. These experiences can be enormously rewarding in their own right, and if you can introduce your workmates to them, they may be enormously appreciative.

Moreover, you may build influence in your workplace by doing the same outside of it. Strong connections between your business and local charities or community groups can generate positive press. Very few people in your workplace would be unimpressed by that, and this type of positive word of mouth can bolster the brand image of the business you work for. It’s a great way to get noticed.

Be More Than Your Work

While it’s great to take your work seriously and give it your all, it’s possible to push things too far. The ability to say ‘no’ at the right moment could be a good way to build influence amongst your colleagues. Obviously, you shouldn’t turn down stellar opportunities. However, it’s been said that a burnout epidemic is sweeping across the nation, and being mindful of that can put you in good stead. By providing feedback to HR and your superiors, your colleagues may appreciate your efforts. Reasonable superiors will also appreciate your feedback, which may help them to optimise processes.

Remember, you’re not the best employee you can be if you’re exhausted from overworking. You may also be perceived as ‘trying too hard’ or ‘brownnosing’, which may turn certain colleagues against you. Speak up for others, too, but gain their permission first. Many workers share the same concerns.

Ultimately, it’s important to balance your working life and appropriate personal boundaries. These topics are relevant in today’s professional climate, and people are setting higher expectations for working conditions. Being a mouthpiece for that positive movement will build influence.

Build Your Level Of Influence In The Workplace

You can build your influence in the workplace by being positive and proactive, and facilitating further opportunities for yourself and your colleagues.