Open Door Conversations

Ep 79: Leadership is Influence

Episode Summary

Whether you work with two people or 2,000 people, influence is a key leadership skill. Some might even say influence is synonymous with leadership. In this episode, Akua helps you recognize the importance of leveraging your influence and the role of self-reflection and communication in the process. This episode is for you if you're a first-time manager, an established leader, or just feeling invisible in your current work environment. Listen as Akua dives into the four pillars of influence: power, emotions, acumen, and non-verbal signals/visuals. You'll learn about each and identify one pillar you may want to improve upon to take your leadership skills to the next level.

Episode Notes

Whether you work with two people or 2,000 people, influence is a key leadership skill. Some might even say influence is synonymous with leadership. In this episode, Akua helps you recognize the importance of leveraging your influence and the role of self-reflection and communication in the process. 

This episode is for you if you're a first-time manager, an established leader, or just feeling invisible in your current work environment.

Listen as Akua dives into the four pillars of influence: power, emotions, acumen, and non-verbal signals/visuals. You'll learn about each and identify one pillar you may want to improve upon to take your leadership skills to the next level. 

Highlights in this episode: 

• Akua talks about the ways to increase your power, including being able to adapt, empathize, and be open to listening.
• Learn the difference between the power approach and the influence approach and why good leaders know when to use which.
• Strong leadership requires empathy; one way to practice is to cultivate your own self-awareness.
• To wield influence, one must be able to apply skills and knowledge effectively and in the right way, i.e., acumen.
• Realize you are always communicating, even if you're not talking.
   

Resources mentioned in the episode: 

• Ep 71: A Remarkable 2022 and What’s Up Next
• Five Steps to Become More Confident and Assertive
• Power versus Influence
• Understand the 4 Components of Influence
• What Great Leaders Know About Influence
• Influencing Styles and How to Use Them

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Connect with Akua Nyame-Mensah:
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Twitter: @akua_nm
Work with Akua one-on-one: www.akuanm.com/work
Book Akua to speak at your organization: www.akuanm.com/speaking