Making a positive impact

Making an impact and being able to help people move to action can be challenging. Especially when the other person has a higher status or is more senior. That’s where the Art of Influence, incorporating our unique methodology The Holistic Approach will enable you to make a significant difference.

What makes The Holistic Approach unique is its focus on three dimensions that are vital whenever seeking to positively impact others.

·         IQ (classic intelligence) - expertise, knowledge, logical thinking

·         EQ (emotional intelligence) – emotional state, vision, triggers

·         SQ (situational intelligence) - context, relationship, hierarchy, purpose

Often, when we prepare our communication or interaction,  we focus on our message and the evidence we want to present without sufficient consideration to who we are trying to influence and what place (emotionally, mentally and physically) they are coming from. Our sole focus is on the IQ.

But we are emotional creatures, no matter where we are or what we are doing, and emotions always play a vital role in our decisions and actions. Understanding EQ, having a high-level of self-awareness, knowing our emotional state and personal triggers enables us to understand those we are hoping to have an impact on better and brings control and choice when handling even challenging situations.

Adding the third dimension, the SQ, allows us to look at the complete (holistic) picture. This could include:

·         Context – What is the overall purpose of the meeting?

·         Setting - What are the circumstances?

·         Physical location – where is this person based? What is their environment? What are the issues on the ground there?

·         Culture – what is the culture they are immersed in? How does that mean they will react as compared to someone in your culture?

·         Hierarchy – What is the hierarchical setting? What is the power dynamic and power distance between me, and the other person/other people involved?

Next time you are preparing an interaction where you hope to achieve positive impact, consider all three dimensions of The Holistic Approach and see how this changes how you communicate and move people to action.

 For more on this, to discuss a training programme on Impact or to enquire about some individual coaching, contact andrew@theacademylearning.org