Influence: The Wednesday Word #WednesdayWisdom
INTRO: This is one of those words that brings to mind the wisdom of Spider-Man’s Uncle Ben. “With great power comes great responsibility.” And so it goes with today’s word. If you wield the power of today’s word, you must do it with great responsibility and ethics.
WORD: Influence (noun / verb)
DEFINITION of Influence:
(noun)
- the capacity to have an effect on the character, development, or behavior of someone or something, or the effect itself.
“the influence of television violence” - the power to shape policy or ensure favorable treatment from someone, especially through status, contacts, or wealth.
“the institute has considerable influence with teachers” - a person or thing with the capacity or power to have an effect on someone or something.
“Frank was a good influence on her”
(verb)
- have an influence on; affect; determine; guide
ETYMOLOGY of Influence:
late 14c., an astrological term, “streaming ethereal power from the stars when in certain positions, acting upon character or destiny of men,” from Old French influence “emanation from the stars that acts upon one’s character and destiny” (13c.), also “a flow of water, a flowing in,” from Medieval Latin influentia “a flowing in” (also used in the astrological sense), from Latin influentem (nominative influens), present participle of influere “to flow into, stream in, pour in,” from in- “into, in, on, upon” (from PIE root *en “in”) + fluere “to flow” (see fluent).
The range of senses in Middle English was non-personal, in reference to any outflowing of energy that produces effect, of fluid or vaporous substance as well as immaterial or unobservable forces. Meaning “exertion of unseen influence by persons” is from 1580s (a sense already in Medieval Latin, for instance Aquinas); meaning “capacity for producing effects by insensible or invisible means” is from 1650s. Under the influence (of alcohol, etc.) “drunk” first attested 1866.
Influence: The Wednesday Word ACTION IDEAS:
So, in sales and business, how do you get ethical influence? Well, first, what is ethical influence? In short, ethical influence would be you helping someone make the right decision. And the right decision would be an individual taking action on the thing that does the most amount of good for the most amount of people. And what is the best way to get ethical influence? You earn it. So in sales, that means, you show up with an attitude of service, you look for problems to solve (because problems are opportunities), you over promise AND you over deliver.
You give, give, give WITHOUT the expectation of reciprocation. You give because it’s the right thing to do. Giving solely to get and expecting something in return would be manipulative. You go the extra mile and do what the competition refuses to do and that makes you rare and exclusive in the market. You’re an expert in the space, you know you’re stuff and you’re the authority on your product and service. People will seek you out because of this. You are reliable, consistent and don’t go back on your word. You take 100% responsibility for all outcomes. Good and bad. This is how you get influence. You earn it.
