Of all the good attributes of the flourishing business leader-vision, mission, goals , objectives, strategies, tactics and values. Influence, a compelling force which helps change the way people think, act and react to situations, is possibly one of the most important. As a leader, if you are unable to influence people to “buy-in” to your plans for a greater future then you might as well be on your own. How do you lead followers effectively at school, in business or even in politics and religious organizations if you have no influence. The word has taken a new turn in this century with advent of the internet and a group of people who are earning the tag: “Influencer” based on the compelling content they are able to muster and place on line regularly which leads to a large following of people imbibing their ideas and ideals.
Felix Kjellberg, better known as PewDiePie, is a Swedish social media influencer. With a subscriber base of 80.6 million according to media kix.com, he is the most followed YouTuber of all time. He also entertains enormous audiences on Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter, reaching a total of nearly 120 million followers across the four platforms! He has nearly 20 million more YouTube subscribers in just this year alone, a year-over-year growth rate that is unmatched by any other social media influencer.
Though he’s been criticized multiple times for creating inappropriate and insensitive content, the social media superstar maintains extreme popularity online and allegedly earns around $12 million each year. He has also leveraged his online fame to launch a limited edition apparel line.
• YouTube — 80.6 million subscribers
• Instagram — 15.3 million followers
• Facebook — 7.4 million page likes
• Twitter — 16.5 million followers
The figures are mindboggling. In many parts of the world today certain individuals are creating communities via the internet and having a massive following. The latest thinking in business is what is known as global impact or globalization if you like. How do you reach a wider audience with your product or service without necessarily incurring massive over heads? Organizations go global for several reasons, management strategists Olurotimi Vincent Adegborioye outlines some of these reasons: to improve sales and profit margins, enter new markets, diversify the business and access larger and more diversified talent pools among others. Individuals as well as organizations should begin in this century, to think global, even though they may be constrained to act local.
A business leader of whatever form should seek to spread his influence as far and wide as possible and improve profit margins. Individuals as well as organizations should begin in this century, to think global, even though they may be constrained to act local.
A leader of whatever form should seek to spread his influence as far and wide as possible. A network of associates and loyalists can serve as vital aspect of our operating strategy. The essence is we are using our influence to relate with a number of people who help us fulfill our strategic business objectives. Networking is unique strategy for spreading our influence. According to Ekundayo Olomu, Human Resource Consultant and motivational speaker, “if we can build a network it would enable us to fulfill certain objectives” that would be difficult to achieve on our own. These include:
• Achieving goals
• Finding unique opportunities for growth
• Building business contacts and meeting new friends and associates
• Finding profitable connections for everyone in our network
Essentially a person who wishes to influence others needs to develop some personal skills that would work for him while he seeks to build and expand his network these include: Public Speaking/Self Promotion, consistent research and self development, listening into business circles to know the current developments and how to adapt to them and building rapport. These are skills that can be picked up with a lot of practice and determination. Ask yourself in your business or preoccupation: How many people can you influence to get things done on your behalf by merely asking? What kind of network do you have? Is it working for you in meeting your strategic business objectives?
The influence of forwarding looking business minded people should consistently expand. It should be on the upswing such that realms that make business easier can be reached. Think about it: The concept of networking and influence is what the social media is built on. If we can follow these principles as business minded people, the sky is the limit for us in what we do. One other strategy for increasing our network and influence that we need to mention here is the ability to leverage events and circumstances that we find ourselves in to our advantage. A frequently as possible, we ought to attend events that we can use to improve and expand our network. At such events, here are some things we can do to help us: Arm yourself with useful background information that would enable you discuss from an informed point of view, keep your call cards handy, have a pitch about yourself and your business handy, think mutual benefits and try not to be selfish. Events work wonders for expanding networks and influence because you have access to a large number of people at the same time.
