Influence Tactics

To be an effective leader, it is necessary to influence others to support and implement decisions that both leader and the followers deem to be necessary. Without influence, a leader has no way of getting followers to perform the task the leader needs to have accomplished. In other words, leadership is the act of influencing others. Influence can be with people, things or events. Strength and effectiveness of influence can vary. The process the leader uses to influence can take a variety of forms. Influence is defined as the capacity or power of persons or things to be a compelling force on or produce effects on the actions, behavior, and opinions of others. To influence a leader uses tactics, actual behaviors designed to change another person's attitudes, values, beliefs or actions. There are seven common influence tactics used by effective leaders.

Pressure a leader will use demands, threats, and persistent reminders to influence a target. My score on pressure is a four reflecting that I tend not to use a lot of pressure as a tactic to get followers to comply.

Upward appeal is gaining support from one or more people with higher authority or expertise. My score on this tactic is a five this reflects my upward appeal as being substantial. I tend to use this tactic to back up my reasons for a specific task.

Exchange is the offering of an exchange of favors with a target in mind and indicating willingness to reciprocate at a later time, promising to share the benefits if the follower is successful. My score is a four this reflects my use as being average to low meaning I do not use this tactic as much as the average leader does.

Ingratiation is seeking to get the follower in a good mood or to think favorably of the leader before asking the follower to do something. My score is a four this reflects my use as being low. I tend not to "put icing on the cake" so to speak. I would say I tell them like it is no fluff.