When you start out in a new position with a new organization, your level of influence will probably be low. This will limit your effectiveness as a leader until you begin to build influence.
In The 21 Irrefutable Laws of Leadership by John Maxwell, John defines several factors that can affect your influence. So let’s take a look at these and see how we can make a better start in a new role.
Character is who you are. In a new role, people around you will not know your character. You must make sure you demonstrate your values in your decisions and your actions. Consistency will be key to making sure people understand your character.
Relationships are who you know. In a new role, you may not know many people around you. You will need to focus on connecting with those people and building a relationship. This will not happen by accident. You must be intentional in goal to build true relationships.
Knowledge is what you know. This is usually why you are in a new role. Knowledge is one of the key factors evaluated when organizations hire. However, never assume your knowledge is the only knowledge. You will need to contribute, and go beyond the normal effort in explanation, training, and demonstrating your knowledge.
Intuition is what you feel. In a new environment, it will be important to be sensitive to what is going on around you. Using reflection as a tool to make sure you understand your new environment.
Experience is where you have been. Leverage your past experience. Are there people in your past that can help in your new situation?
Past Success is what you’ve done. Your past success may have helped you get in the door, but it is not going to keep you in your new role. What you do today is what matters, not what you did yesterday.
Ability is what you can do. In a new role, use all your abilities. Do not take short cuts, and make sure your effort is 100%. Anything less can be interpreted as a lack of ability, a lack of passion, a lack of involvement or all of the above.
Increasing your level of influence will take time. It will not happen quickly, because it takes time for people to believe in you. You can put it on a positive trajectory and accelerate it with the correct intentional actions.
Once you are on the right track, momentum will be on your side. Keep doing the right things, and adding value to all those around you, and your influence will increase.