Powerful people have a strong point of view. They lead with clear direction.
Are you powerful?
If you want to be perceived as a leader, you must establish a reputation as a confident and knowledgeable expert with the experience to guide others.
You can become more powerful. In many situations, if you want to gain influence, you must become more powerful.
To be powerful, you must:
1. Be prepared to lead. What will you say to inspire this leadership? What do you confidently know is true, based on your unique knowledge and experience?
2. Be ready to make decisions. How do make your most powerful decisions? What are those decisions based upon?
Do you naturally use Power? You can find out whether Power is your Primary Advantage here, by taking the Fascinate Test and getting your free Rapid Profile. If Power is your Primary Advantage, you have a strong sense of control and authority.
What if Power is NOT your Primary Advantage? Can you grow your strength and influence? Yes, absolutely– if you create messages that gain control of your environment.
This is easier than it seems. You will start by subtly applying your opinions of authority.
YOUR “OPINIONS OF AUTHORITY”
You already have opinions. But you probably aren’t articulating them to build your influence with the Power Advantage.
An “opinion of authority” is a strongly worded viewpoint.
It is not a statement of fact, but rather, a firm belief that reflects your expertise. It must be rooted in your area of experience, and reflect a personal sentiment. It can also be contrarian, or counter intuitive. Remember, the Power Advantage isn’t always about building consensus, but about increasing your personal influence.
Your opinions of authority shouldn’t be obvious. In fact, the more distinctive your point of view, the more memorable it will be.
You won’t stand apart from your competition if you don’t first take a stand.
What do you believe with such conviction that you can advise your customer with full confidence?
EXERCISE: BUILDING YOUR OPINIONS OF AUTHORITY
To be perceived as powerful, find the opinions that you can stand behind confidently, and emphatically. Increase the perceived difference between you and others.
START THINKING ABOUT YOUR OPINIONS.
Let’s begin by jotting a list of your own personal opinions. Your most opinionated opinions. You know you have them… and now it’s time to clarify precisely what they are. (Look, don’t be shy. Write them down. It’s just us here.)
Give yourself permission to exert your beliefs.
A PLACE TO START: THE STATE OF YOUR INDUSTRY
Imagine a new employee asks you to lunch, to learn from you. They have less experience than you, and they want to understand the potential pitfalls of your industry. What warnings would you give about the way that business is usually handled in your industry?
FOUR QUESTIONS TO ASK YOURSELF:
The biggest problem in the industry right now is:
____________________________________________________
The way I would fix this problem is:
____________________________________________________
Things used to be better when we used to:
____________________________________________________
The best improvement we could possibly make as an industry would be to do this:
____________________________________________________
This is a place to start. Continue to develop your opinions of authority.
Take a stand.
Stand out.
Now, it’s your turn. What’s an example of YOUR opinion of authority?
Tell me here, in the comments below!
2 Comments
WOW ! I feel more powerful for having just done the work that you suggested here Sally. But that’s really what it’s all about isn’t it? DOING the work that is here for us to do. Here are my answers to these questions; FOUR QUESTIONS TO ASK YOURSELF: The biggest problem in the industry right now is: People are paying too much (that they often can’t afford) for the kind of local internet marketing and advertising advice, and for products and services that doesn’t actually HELP them DO what they really need to do to attract and secure more customers when you consider the way that people have changed in their buying habits. ___________________________________________________ And, the way I would fix this problem is: Give small local business owners and managers accessible affordable, immediately actionable access to the help that they want and need, then continue with ongoing support, and do it all in a way that it’s affordable, as they are allowed and encouraged to successfully access, the various things, tools ideas and strategies and tactics that they need and want, so they can attract secure, and retain more customers, in spite of the massive changes in the way that people look for information on, and then buy what they want, and give these often neglected small business people open access and interactive communication to what works now, and provide them a window into the changes that have and continue to occur in marketing and advertising with the advent of the internet . ____________________________________________________ Things used to be better when we used to: Talk to people as thought they were people, and not just numbers, and technology can help us turn things around, back to a place of civility, and connection, and communication, and good experience, and it will do that for us, as long as someone takes the time necessary to explain HOW it can be beneficial for all of those involved, and as long as someone is there for you, as you begin to gain knowledge and courage as you realize that you CAN do more good in the world, through using these amazing new technologies, to be able to serve others more effectively and profitably.___________________________________________________ The best improvement we could possibly make as an industry would be to do this: Lower the bar and allow more people to gain a basic understanding of what they CAN do. We (as tech savvy marketers) need to stop teasing people into thinking that they have to spend big money, or that they have to learn a bunch of high tech stuff, to be able to participate in promoting their own businesses effectively in today’s world. We need to be there more often, for more, people as they attempt to take action, and as they see that there are things for them to do, they will gain strength and conviction in taking care of this crucial yet extremely misunderstood element of how business gets done today ! ____________________________________________________
For years in sales I firmly believed that I should treat my customers the way I wanted to be treated. But, just like not everyone likes brussells sprouts or calves liver, not everyone wants to be treated the way I do. Therefore, as a sales professional, it is vital I take the time to look and listen to my customers. Watch for visual cues, and listen to verbal cues that will help me understand how THEY want to be treated. Just because someone doesn’t like brussells sprouts doesn’t mean they are wrong. It means that they are just different. By treating them as an individual and not just another customer, it has made an impact on my sales and my customer retention.