The Art of Being Able to Influence Your Team as a Manager — The 4 Steps to Take

How to Influence Your Team as a Manager
The ability to influence your team as a manager has a direct correlation to individual and team success.  Effective leadership today isn’t just about giving orders; it’s about inspiring and guiding your team towards shared goals and through the inevitable challenges that will arise. The ability to influence your team as a manager helps you and your team to mobilize resources, drive organizational change, and get results with others.

Understanding the Power of Influence at Work as a Manager
First and foremost, it’s crucial to recognize that ability to influence your team as a manager is not about workplace politics, coercion, or manipulation. New manager training participants know that true influence at work stems from earned trust, respect, and credibility. The good news is that we know from people manager assessment data that teams look to their manager for guidance and direction.

4 Steps to Increase Your Influence at Work as a Manager
Transactional leadership styles may beget efficiencies, but they do not create the trust required for real influence at work.  We know from organizational culture assessment data that teams perform better when they feel respected and cared for.  Managers who consistently lead with integrity and authenticity can earn their team’s trust and increase their influence by effectively:

1. Building Strong Individual Relationships
   If you want to influence your team as a manager, invest the time to get to know each individual on a personal level to build strong relationships with your team. Show genuine interest in their aspirations, concerns, and challenges. By demonstrating empathy and understanding as a manager, you can forge meaningful connections that lay the foundation for authentic influence.

   How strong are your relationships with everyone on your team?

2. Communicating with Clarity and Purpose
   Clear and effective communication is essential for exerting influence as a manager. Be concise, articulate, and transparent with your team. Clearly share your expectations, objectives, and vision for the future.

   Healthy work relationships require honest and open communication. Listen actively to your team members’ input and feedback and be open to constructive debate. By fostering a culture of open communication, you can empower your team to contribute their ideas and insights, thereby enhancing collective decision-making and problem-solving.

   How well do you communicate (what you say and how you say it) what matters most?

3. Leading from a Place of Positivity and Kindness
   Whether you like it or not, as a people leader you are a role model for your team. Your actions speak louder than words. Lead by example, keep your teams’ well-being in mind, and embody the corporate values and behaviors you wish to instill in your team.

   To increase your influence as a manager, demonstrate integrity, accountability, and resilience — especially in the face of challenges. Show humility and a willingness to learn from mistakes. By setting a positive example, you can inspire your team to emulate your actions.

   Are you inspiring your team to be the best versions of themselves?

4. Empowering Your Team
   True leadership influence is not about micromanagement or control; it’s about empowering your team to perform at their peak. While it may seem counterintuitive, to increase your influence as a manager, delegate tasks and responsibilities whenever you can according to each team member’s strengths, expertise, and motivations.

   Just remember that empowering your team does not mean handing over responsibility or control. It means setting clear individual and team expectations, providing the resources, support, acknowledgement, and autonomy they need to excel, and creating a practical framework for decision-making that aligns with where you want to go.

   Does your team feel valued and empowered to take full ownership of their work?

The Bottom Line
Influence is the currency of effective leadership at work. By building strong relationships, communicating with clarity and purpose, leading by example, and empowering your team, you can become a more impactful manager and inspire your team to reach higher. Remember, true influence is not about exerting control; it’s about inspiring others to do their best.

To learn more about how to better influence your team as a manager download Organizational Savvy – How to Understand Workplace Politics Strategies to Influence Others