10 secrets to become an influencer

What is influence? As social beings, we interact with each other and share our knowledge. The manner of this exchange is very determinant of others' choice. At least once, you've done something in your life out of sheer influence. You did not do that thing out of your personal dispositions. The chosen study field in school, the spouse to whom we are married, the events we attend, the services we render are sometimes the doings of others. These people who have influence upon our lives may be our parents, close friends, teachers, mentors, etc.

They might influence our decisions because they have related experience, they sponsor us (in the event) or they simply have preference for their choice. Note that you must not be wealthy or physically powerful before you can become influencial. Though it's not obligatory for you to maintain all ten strategies, you should be consistent with them overtime.  

Here's what you will read:

• Establish your credibility 
• Give people assurance
• Be polite and respectful
• Create impact 
• Be a better guide 
• Shun what's not right 
• Be updated Listen, don't judge
• Show gratitude 
• Be resilient and visionary  

Ten Secret Steps

1. Establish your credibility

Your personality is the most important –if not the only– asset you have when dealing with people. You should be trustworthy by respecting your words, by living in a socially acceptable manner. Never make a promise that you will not hold. Tip: Be firm in character, have practical principles and techniques set attainable goals.

2. Give people assurance

People will follow your steps only if you seem certain of what you are doing. So, project confidence when discussing your ideas with them. You should know what your ideas entail and the related details about them. Tips: Don't recommend something that you haven't thought about enough.

3. Be polite and respectful

Charisma and good communication skills will give you some popularity. But being polite and respectful will make people –not everyone, obviously– respect you in return. Even in the midst of misunderstandings,  contempt, sheer jealousy, stay mild and respectful. Tips: Stay calm, be proactive and analyse any conflictual situation.

4. Create impact

In other to become an influencer, you should be useful to people. They will willingly listen to you if they believe you are their solution, if you can untie the knot in their lives. Be present and active in their lives. Tips: Provide solutions to their problems, encourage their projects, share resources that will make them financially (or otherwise) independent.

5. Be a better guide

Do you know this maxim: "experience is the best teacher"? It's really annoying that people refer, recommend, talk about stuffs they have not done themselves. If you want to be influencial, do things yourself. Be first, be the leader, take risks and bear their consequences, then share your experience, knowledge. Give first hand information. Tips: Mentor someone in your field of work, study or project you have worked on.

6. Shun what's not right

When you become influential, people look upto you for right behaviour. They, somehow, will expect you to despise hate, bullying, evil and any form of unpleasant behaviour openly. Tips: Don't accommodate wrongdoings, even when they are not done against you, however, proceed with caution.

7. Be updated

If you're not informed, you're deformed. Stay up-to-date with current events. Be someone who's always privy to developing news in the domain. Equally, as a follow-up, if you've recommended a service or product to someone, ask them how it works for them. Tips: Follow the 6 am and 8 pm news daily on TV, radio, these Cameroonian websites, etc.

8. Listen, don't judge

Being polite and respectful do not suffice. You should be open to people's views and hear them out. Norms are simply recommended steps, and they change with person, place and time. Don't be dogmatic and unwelcoming because someone has an inclination that's not acceptable. Tips: See how it is possible for you and the other person to have a compromise.

9. Show gratitude

I don't think it will ever be enough to say, "leaders are chosen". Someone will be more likely to re-listen to you if you showed them gratitude the last time. Even though you are impacting their lives, thank them for listening to you. You've to maintain your apparent influence. Tip: Don't consider your position of influence as an achievement, rather consider it as a process that never ends, because it never does.

10. Be resilient and visionary

You should be a scope through which they see the future. Your perspective should be broad and you should have a positive mindset. Always think of ways of bettering their lives. Tip: Think of solutions to a community problem like waste management through positioning refuse bins at strategic places in the neighbourhood.