“Example is not the main thing in influencing others. It is the only thing” — Albert Schweitzer
If you are reading this email, it’s because you are in some type of leadership role. And as you may or may not be aware by now, you are influencing those around you. You have some type of authority over a Team, which should be as simple as a new title change, right?
Well, sorry to say, that couldn’t be more Wrong. To be the kind of leader that inspires a happier and more successful team, you need to ensure you’re focusing on influence, rather than power(power that most think come just because of what their title is), to achieve strategic outcomes. That means towing a delicate line between exerting the kind of pressure that is necessary to achieve your mission for those under your charge and creating a workplace that allows people to feel relaxed and confident in your team’s abilities. The relationship between power and influence is VITAL to good leadership!
And because a happier, well lead Team is also more productive, takes fewer sick days and will help improve your companys sales, you need to ensure you’re on the right side of the influence / power debate.
What’s the difference between power and influence in leadership? Power and influence both refer to naturally possessed traits that follow as a consequence of authority. The difference lies in how these two approaches to leadership encourage our Teams to complete their work.
Power can be defined as the following: “The authority to change the behavior of others and make them do the things that they might not do otherwise.”
The trouble with power is that, for the Team, there is no alternative but to comply with the “rules” – which means that power is often achieved through fear. Which is short lived! I can promise you that.
On the other hand, influence is defined as: “the ability to alter other people’s perceptions of a situation”… Unlike power, influence makes use of positive language and subtle behaviors to encourage the desired outcome. While power forces your people to complete a task, influence helps them understand why that task is necessary to achieve your company’s mission!
Here is a list of the fundamental differences between power and influence:
1. Power is forced while influence is voluntary — Power relies heavily on forcing our team members to do something through the use of threats, whether they’re implied or explicit. Intimidation is achieved by creating the belief that if an employee does not comply, they will face punishment – whether that means being fired, or however it looks. It sucks! This kind of negative leadership can create the feeling amongst team members that they have no choice but to do things a certain way.
Influence leads to an entirely voluntary approach to completing work. Through the use of positive affirmations and encouragement, influence results in the team feeling that they have a choice in both the work they’re required to complete as well as the means they take to get it done. Threats are traded in for persuasion and negotiation to allow employees more control over the work they’re doing.
2. Influence focuses on the team, Power remains in the hands of one person, or a small group. — This independent approach to leadership means that the team is not consulted during the decision-making process, and are often micromanaged to ensure that the leader’s methods are upheld. This response to leadership removes a sense of responsibility from the team, decreasing morale.
Influence understands that teamwork is a dependent process: the team is dependent on their leader for guidance and the leader is dependent on employees to produce excellent work. As a result, there is a shift from decision-making to an emphasis on transparency and getting the team involved at various stages. This approach means that team members feel valued, and as a result, produce work that reflects that. At Atlas, our chosen leadership model is ‘Servant Leadership’. There is no job that is done that is “below” any of my leaders day to day responsibilities. We lead by example in everything we do, never expect somebody to do a job we wouldn’t do as leaders, and we empower those under our charge to think, act, and lead like intrepreneurs!
3. Power makes uses of one-way dialogue while influence creates a conversation — Power is exerted by leaders who enjoy a sense of hierarchy. That hierarchy is most apparent in the way in which teams communicate. When only a powerful leader is present, teams will be talked down to through orders and instruction. This results in ambiguity and unclear expectations, as there is little room for asking questions or giving feedback. Transparency is not valued in leadership that depends on power and, as a result, the team can (AND WILL) become disengaged!
Influence is concerned with the thoughts and feedback of the Team. Influential leaders encourage straightforward conversation where processes can be improved and creative ideas are pushed forward. This approach to leadership fosters trust and relies on negotiation to make our team members feel valued and heard. Influence does not do well in systems of hierarchy.
Where the glaze meets the donut: To be a better leader, we need to invest in our teams but also in our own skill set. When we as leaders get better, everybody gets better! Make a commitment to keep growing and learning. Remember, you must be close enough to relate to others but far enough ahead to motivate them. If you truly want people to respect you as a leader, and truly be influenced by you, you must prove to them they can survive and thrive even without you. This is influential leadership at it’s BEST!