Is influence real? It isn’t hypothetical fiction.

In research done in San Francisco it was discovered that regardless of the initial varying heart rates of two strangers, after a brief elevator ride, their heart rates were nearly identical.

If you can unknowingly influence a stranger’s heart rate in 30 seconds, just imagine what you can PURPOSELY influence in the course of your life! Vic Conant

To be able to have influence which gives you the ability to be effective and have potential impact on those with whom you come into contact there are criteria which must be established.
The person or persons that you are trying to influence:

• Can they trust you?
• Do they have faith in your ability to deliver what you are promising?
• Are they assured and fully reliant on your character, strength and or ability to do what is necessary.

Faith – Having faith or trust in you is the key to influencing the actions of others. It is very important that you invest the time in establishing a level of trust with those you are intending to form relationships; personal, social and professional. It does not matter what type of relationship you are attempting to form there must be a level of faith and trust before you can influence any actions. How can you have anyone believe that what you are offering them is good for them if they cannot trust you?

Do you have the ability to establish some sort of expertise or have you given good reason for others to believe in what you are saying.

Successful thinkers know that even if they are smart and talented they are only able to go so far because of limitations in their ability to influence others.

Can you prove that you know what you are talking about? How can you influence others to follow you if you cannot convince them that you know where you are going? To reach the highest level of influence it is important to demonstrate that you know what you said you know.

Influence is not exploitation or anything underhanded or duplicitous.

• Influence is not being persuasive.
• Influence is more than being charismatic, or charming, more than being the front runner or the chief person in charge.
• Influence is showing respect for other people’s opinions and showing honest sincere appreciation.
• Influence is not flattery.
• Influence is not being disrespectful it is being respectful of other people’s ideas and being genuinely interested in what others have to say.

As a successful thinker you realize that:
Influence is not being able to get the best of an argument but by doing your best to avoid arguments. When you become proficient at the hardly ever used yet effective Law of Influence, you gain the basic skill that strengthens all other skills and put you on the road living a very successful life.

Dr. Lucille Farrell Scott