5 Steps to Influence

There is a power that is magical in business.  It comes from the ability to establish credibility.  Credibility goes a long way towards developing that magical power of influence.  Credibility comes from:

• Act with integrity.  (Integrity is not a set of values but the act of being consistent in what you say and what you do.  Even bad guys can have integrity if they claim to be bad and are in fact bad, they have integrity.  Often misused to mean a set of high moral standards.  Instead it is being who you say you are.)
• Have and know your core beliefs.  Where is your right and wrong?  Where is your line in the sand?
• Build win/win relationships.  Build relationships where win/win works.  Aligned values, goals and when possible make it fun.
• Lead the way.  Influence comes from successful experience.  
• Consider the future.  Thought leaders are often influential because they lead us in new directions.

 So there it is...what other steps can we take to be influential?