Use Influence to Position Yourself as an Informal Leader

Gaining influence at work can help you position yourself as an informal leader, regardless of your title, says a recent article from Harvard Business Review.

Among the strategies offered:

• Make sure you have good rapport with your colleagues. When people like you, they are more likely to hear you out and support your ideas.

• Strive to make colleagues feel heard and appreciated. Ask for their perspectives and advice, and be sure to give them your undivided attention—i.e., don’t fidget or check your phone.

• Make an effort to develop business-critical expertise and know-how. Regularly attend industry conferences, enroll in a class or specialized certification program, or take on a leadership role in a professional organization.

• Frame your ideas so they benefit the people you want on your side. Consider each stakeholder’s individual needs, perspectives and temperaments. Try to use the word “we” so the proposal doesn’t seem too self-interested.

For more tips, see the full HBR article: “How to Increase Your Influence at Work.”