The 3Ps of an Influential Leader
Leadership is Influence is a common phrase I hear frequently when we discussed about leadership and influence. The question to ask is not whether leadership is influence, but what exactly is influence for a leader? Can leader really use them? Does leader naturally have them? What does it take for a leader to really lead with influence? Can Influence be learned and harnessed as a leader’s ability?
I believe that Perspective is Power. For any leaders to harness the invisible power of Influential Leadership, they must first have the 3Ps perspectives in order to lead successfully with influence.
Influence People Positively
Leadership is Influence. Influence is People. Leadership is about People. There is no influence if there are no people in the equation. Organizations need people to function. Tasks require people to carry out. Influencing people positively to drive business performance is key. No matter how capable we are as individual or leaders, our effort is zero if we cannot influence and deploy people who are willing to go the extra mile for you.
If the people do not buy into you as a leader, it is fairly easy nowadays for people to leave and join another company, another influential leader. We may also face staffs that deliver work only to the required capacity and not the extra miles. Performance will eventually stagnate and workload increase, and it is only a matter of time the “boomerang” will return to you and you might potentially lose your role only because you cannot influence and deploy talent positively.
Influential Leaders understand that while Key Performance Indicators (KPI) need to be fulfilled; they do not allow people development to become a blind spot just because the priority is business. In our fast-paced business cycle, it is tempting to overlook people’s emotions and development and allow it to take a permanent back seat. In people, there is no “back-seat.” They are the drivers of your business. Influential Leader is about People First.
Influential Leaders actively look for ways for people to grow. They challenge their people to stretch their individual potential over and beyond what they are currently doing. Giving them opportunities to take the stage and shine. Their people’s success is their own success. They are successful because their people are.
This is the power of Reciprocity at work. When people appreciate the opportunity you had given them because you sincerely want them to succeed. They will in turn, ensure that you succeed as their leader. This is the hallmark of an Influential Leader.
Inspire Purposeful Action
Purpose is having clarity in what you stand for, most importantly as a person, because this drives your direction in how you manage people and make decisions in business. Purpose is the driving engine of Influential Leaders, giving them great resolve and determination to go the extra miles and these translates into the leadership you represent.
When I am coaching executive, one of the points I emphasized is that your personal values reflect your values as an influential leader. Yes, we can change behavior, but the change will not be permanent if your personal value as a person is not clear, supportive and useful. This impact will spill over into your work as a leader. People will see it, sense it and talk about it.
Influential Leader is purposeful. When you have a purposeful leader, you have purposeful people, and purposeful people bring purposeful profit. What do you stand for as a person? What do you believe in when you are managing people? What do you see in them that you can bring forth, and accelerate both their success and yours?
Ignite Extraordinary Performance
It will be all fads if we only talk about people and purpose but no result. Influential Leadership is about getting the best out of your people ensuring their success, and being purposeful in driving them to greater height and most importantly, it converges towards performance – business result.
It calls for a great balance between People, Purpose and Performance. Often, organization achieves one or two Ps out of the three. Even the most successful companies have to constantly calibrate and balance the 3Ps. It is always work in progress.
Each “P” by itself is a necessary pit stop for us to pause and ask the following:
People:
“What have I done for my people to ensure they grow and prosper?”
Purpose:
“Do I know what drives my people at work, and do they know what I stand for as a person?”
Performance:
“What can I do to amplify my people’s potential?”
Influential Leadership is about regularly calibrating our perspective on what does it mean for you on People, Purpose and Performance, while functioning efficiently in the workplace, and not just being a leader, but an influential leader at work.
One simple observation question as to whether are you on track to becoming an Influential Leader. If your people see you on the street, do they come to you and say “Hi!” or do they take an alternative route to avoid you? This might say a lot about your leadership style.
Article By:
Joseph Wong is a Behavioral Transformation Coach and Influence expert in Asia, with a purpose on “Building Influential Leaders Across Asia”. His expertise and program on INFLUENCE can be found at www.traininggearasia.com. Or email influence@traininggearasia.com for more information.
