Change is inevitable or so they say. But in my experience people are resistant to change and that is why influencing it effectively is a skill worth mastering. The six sources of influence offer a concise roadmap to navigate and inspire change where ever you are.
1. Personal Motivation: Start with a compelling "why" and help others love what they hate.
2. Personal Ability: Equip yourself with the necessary skills and knowledge to bring about the change you desire. Then help others do what they cannot by teaching them what you know.
3. Social Motivation: Peer influence can be key in promoting influence. It can literally help you succeed or fail. Find opinion leaders that can rally around your cause and help encourage vital behaviors.
4. Social Ability: Collaboration is key. We rarely have everything that we need to succeed all on our own. We need help from others; their brains, their hands and their resources.
5. Structural Motivation: Create an incentive system that aligns with your vital behaviors that is done through personal and social motivation. Use caution when incentivizing and punishing. You run the risk of relying on incentives if done incorrectly. Punishing when desired behaviors are not met is risky too, you do not know what the outcome will be.
6. Structural Ability: Change the environment to facilitate your goal. You may need to redesign processes or systems to support the desired outcome.
Putting It into Practice: Incorporate these six sources to approach change, and see how they influence and help you achieve your desired outcomes more effectively. Using just one or a two of the strategies can still influence change, however using multiple strategies or all six greatly increases the likelihood of success.
References
Grenny, J., Patterson, K., Maxfield, D., McMillan, R., & Switzler, A. (2013). Influencer: The new science of leading change. New York, NY: McGraw-Hill.
photo: "Change" by Media by Wix
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