Leadership for 2030 and beyond: Impact and Influence

Two small words but with big repercussions for your career. 

If you want to be a leader in any organisation, these skills are going to be required for success. 

Whether you are a first-time supervisor, manager, experienced C-suite or indeed at Board level.  

Why are these skills important? 

1. Both are needed to do most things at any level across an organisation: they both relate to the ability to cause change but differ in how that change occurs. 
2. Because they are innately humanistic traits, AI can guide as to how, but it can’t add impact or influence, it can however, aid by providing data, and / or research to use in influencing and adding impact.   
3. Many employees move from individual contributor to manager, without being armed fully with the tools to succeed, arming yourself with these 2 skills will better equip yourself / your employees with success.  

Impact: 

If the impact skill is developed, this can be utilised in a direct and often immediate effect. It is great when making quick decisions and builds trust when used effectively. 

Influence: 

This skill works more subtly. Successful use can shape attitudes and behaviours over time and hand in hand, both need to be developed as leaders at any level.  

Combine both and you can adjust to any situation: a performance issue needs direct and immediate action while a system change needs more influencing skill to start with before impact gets used.  

Below is a graphic of how impact and influence work out in practice. 

 

• Outside of these two skills, effective communication needs to be present, of course, but work on developing these skills and leadership will be a little easier.  That’s why we have added these skills as a module in our High Potential Program and why our leadership assessment incorporates Influencing Styles. 
• We can provide our customers with evidence of how an individual will act in their role and predict how successful they will be, and what areas may need coaching.  
• Leadership development is critical for organisational success. Is it time you sat back and reflected on?: 
  • What skills you need to develop? 
  • What is your management skills level? 
• Optimum also use this data in high-performing teams’ workshops because when individuals understand themselves and each other then, and only then, the foundations of trust, accountability and results are set, increasing the chance to achieve organisational goals and strategies. 

In a time where uncertainty is certain, one thing you can control is arming your team with the right skills. Why not start with Impact and Influence? 

 

Stephen Cushion
General Manager – Consulting