In the corporate world, managers play crucial roles as they oversee various aspects of their teams. Managing people is challenging, regardless of the number of individuals or the setting.
If you are an HR manager, key skills such as communication, time management, and negotiation are crucial for effective manpower management.
Your efficiency as a manager hinges on how well you communicate and influence others. In this blog, we will explore strategies for influencing others effectively as a manager.
Take a moment to reschedule your meeting by just 5 minutes and read this blog—it could provide valuable insights to enhance your management skills.
- Communication: To influence others effectively, good communication is essential. It’s not just about being clear; it’s also about conveying calmness and friendliness, both verbally and non-verbally, in a professional manner. Consider this scenario: Two bosses ask you to complete a task. One gives clear instructions but lacks calmness and friendliness in his communication. The other provides the same instructions but with a calm and friendly demeanor. Which boss do you think will influence you more in completing the task? Clearly, the second boss will have a greater impact.
- Use Empathy: As a manager, employing empathy is crucial for influencing employees effectively. By understanding their personal and professional challenges, you can tailor your approach to meet their needs and concerns. For example, if you ask an employee to complete a task without considering their current workload or personal difficulties, you may not engage them meaningfully. They might comply out of obligation rather than genuine motivation. Showing empathy helps you connect with employees on a deeper level, making your influence more impactful and fostering a more cooperative and motivated team.
- Needs, Motivation, and Persuasion: Everyone has unique needs and motivations in the workplace that influence their behavior. For instance, some employees work hard to increase their sales not just for the commission, but to become top performers and advance in their careers. As a manager, understanding these needs and motivations can help you influence your team more effectively.
To learn about employees’ needs and motivations, engage with them regularly through casual conversations—during morning check-ins, lunch breaks, or even casual chats during commutes. These interactions can reveal what drives them and what they need to achieve their goals.
For example, if you have an employee who is struggling with performance, you might use their fear of job loss as a motivator by emphasizing the importance of meeting targets to avoid drastic measures. Conversely, if an employee is motivated by career advancement, you could highlight how improving performance could lead to a promotion by showing examples of colleagues who have succeeded.
By understanding what motivates your employees, you can tailor your approach to persuade and influence them effectively.
- Build Rapport: While professional and personal lives can differ, establishing a strong rapport with employees and fellow managers is crucial. Good rapport fosters positive relationships and enhances your ability to influence others. For example, As a manager you can build rapport with their team by regularly acknowledging their contributions and engaging in open conversations about their career aspirations. This not only strengthens trust and respect but also makes it easier to guide and influence team members towards common goals.
- Demonstrate Credibility: As a manager, it’s crucial to regularly showcase your skills, emotional intelligence, experience, and knowledge. This not only helps you support your team effectively but also builds your credibility. When you demonstrate your expertise and offer assistance, you earn respect from your employees—not just because of your position but due to your proven competence.
When people recognize your credibility, they are more likely to trust and be influenced by you. Respect for genuine expertise often surpasses the respect given based on rank alone. By consistently proving your credibility, you foster a trustworthy environment where your influence is more impactful.
Conclusion
Influencing effectively as a manager involves more than just directing your team; it requires a nuanced approach that blends communication, empathy, understanding of needs, rapport, and credibility. By mastering these strategies, you can enhance your management skills, foster a motivated and cooperative team, and drive positive outcomes in your organization.
