Command

Whilst much of life is about people and networking, how you handle people is as important as what you say to them, if not more important. Meeting acquaintances and persuading them to do something for you is different from asking the same of loved ones.

How to Manage Business Colleagues?

It would be easy to presume that, because one is dealing with or flushed with money, it would be easy to instruct or command a subordinate to do something. Yet, hierarchy is only one element of a life of interactions with other people.

Is pulling one's weight a sure-given way of getting what you want? Does it risk revolt or pushback against your commands? Are there other ways of influencing or perssuading for what you want?

The Seven Influences

Robert Cialdini, in his book, Influence, lists out 7 influences that may persuade or otherwise influence a person to do hwat you would like them to do.

Indeed, of the 7 influences recommended by Robert Cialdini, there is a subtle distinction between the often assumed Asian emphasis on hierarchy and perhaps even pulling rank, and the Cialdini-suggested approach of 'authority'.

Circle of Competence

In the matter of having genuine authority, one's abilities and circles of competence are emphasised. Do you have the requisite qualifications, experience and motivations even to ensure that one possesses good credilbility and standing in the matter at hand?

If one does have the relevant circle of competence, one would find it easier to influence others in matters of which one has the relevant authority.

For example, if one needs to make a final decision on an investment matter that a team has recommended, one may have more insight and thus more wisdom or knowledge on a particular case or subject matter. One will find that one is able to make a more complete and accurate decision on an investment, but not only that, one will find that one is able to convince others more smoothly regarding the pros and cons for making such a decision.

Influence

To read about the 7 influences, including authority, Robert Cialdini's book, Influence, can be found in the following link here. Feel free to purchase the book and/or leave a comment, question or like in the comments section below!