Why should I want to be an influencer?

It's not just about Insta and TikTok...

I have studied, taught, and practiced influence skills for the past forty years or so. My company, Barnes & Conti Associates, has provided workshops and seminars or webinars on the topic for almost as long. When I first encountered the topic, even longer ago, it was considered to be a dark art. “Influence peddlers” were discussed in similar terms to dope dealers. In the ensuing decades, the word has lost much of this negative association and being seen as an influencer is now a very good thing. Of course, it’s often associated with youthful social media stars who receive payment for endorsing products. This newsletter will probably not help you become that influencer. However, most of us are already influential in the circles that are important to us and many of us would like to be even more influential. Among the reasons to be or develop as an influencer are these:

• I want to achieve something and I need the support of other people in order to succeed.

• I see a problem and I think I know how to fix it, but I don’t have the authority to act on it alone.

• I am a formal or informal leader and I need to get others to take actions without being an authoritarian jerk.

• In my family, community, or workplace, there are decisions and/or issues that I’d like to resolve in a productive way through moving others to agreement.

Regardless of why you want to be more influential, there are skills, tools, and processes that can have an important impact on your ability to succeed. In this newsletter - or whatever it is - I will share some of the most useful ways I know to grow your skills as an influencer. You can look for a short post or a longer article from time to time and you can ask me questions by writing to me at bkbarnes@barnesconti.com

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