How to Gain and Retain Influence at Work
Do you lack influence at work? Do your values clash with those of your key workplace contacts? Do you find yourself getting into conflict with them over key decisions and problems? Do you waste time and energy arguing over what matters most and what might go wrong?
Perhaps you want to know how to build influence with your key workplace contacts. Perhaps you want to know how to work effectively with people who approach things differently from you. Or perhaps you simply want to know how to make the differences between you and your main co-workers a point of active collaboration rather than a cause of tension and dissent. If so, this book is for you.
Building Influence in the Workplace takes you through a highly practical, personal and insightful process. It will introduce you to a valuable set of tools which will enable you to build influence, promote your interests and get buy-in to your plans and proposals. The book will enable you to:
- Identify your own workplace values and those of your key colleagues.
- Recognise behaviour you are likely to use as a result of your values, and anticipate the behaviour your key colleagues are likely to use as a result of theirs.
- Appreciate how to work effectively with people who approach things from a different perspective to you.
- Develop the confidence and know-how you need to gain greater influence with a range of your key colleagues and workplace contacts.
- Understand how to retain the influence you have gained, promote your profile in the wider organization and stand by your values under pressure…and much more.
This book will help you to develop influential workplace relationships even with people with whom you have little in common. It includes a series of realistic case studies and examples which reflect common values clashes at work, and encourages you to apply its tools and insights to your own working relationships. Whether you work for a small, medium or large organisation this book will enhance your ability to build effective relationships with your workplace contacts and improve your people-handling and influencing skills.
Praise for the Book
“Aryanne has produced a very comprehensive exposition of the dynamics of influence in the workplace. It is grounded in practical and down to earth language and examples. This book is a must for those who seek to understand better and to develop their influencing effectiveness”.
PHILIP P. ANDERSON Group Head of Executive Development and Sucession, AIB
“Building Influence in the Workplace provides the reader with an excellent model by which to analyse how they currently influence others and where and how they can improve their skill in this area. Easy to read and understand, with plenty of reflection points, readers who are committed to developing themselves in this area will find this coaching approach supportive and thought provoking. I particularly liked Aryanne’s challenge to her readers to consider the ‘price’ of being more influential and whether they are ready for the responsibilities greater influence brings.”
AMANDA WHITEFORD Head of Learning and Development, Tube Lines
“This is an engaging and straight forward guide to influencing. The book will be of value to anyone who needs to influence others in a professional environment. It uses well thought out case studies to help the reader understand the different ways to influence others. The book provides exercises to help you get the most from each chapter and to consider how you can apply the learning from the case studies. It is written in a clear, concise and jargon-free style which makes it an easy and informative read.”
DR JULIE HODGES Senior Teaching Fellow in Organisational Behaviour and Director of the Full Time MBA Programme, Durham University Business School
‘Aryanne has tackled this thorny topic very well, with a highly readable and practical guide for managers and employees at all levels within an organisation. Aryanne’s analysis and guidance encourages the reader to look inwards as well as outwards in developing highly valuable skills for success in the workplace and indeed in life.’
KATE THURMAN Partner, New Bond Street Asset Management, former Director, Dresdner Kleinwort
‘This book is an easy to read and practical guide to how to manage relationships at work effectively and successfully. It encourages the reader to reflect on and assess their own work experiences, and uses case studies to reinforce learning points. Its aim is to steer the reader to think not just about what he or she wants to achieve but how to go about achieving it.’
STEPHEN JACK Group Chief Financial Officer, Compagnie Financière Tradition