Thematic Unit: Influences - Influence Lesson

Let's take a look at influences from the point of view of a leader.

What is Influence?

Influence is the ability to persuade someone to think or act in the way you want. This ability is an essential part of leadership. After all, someone who can't convince people of things isn't a leader--no one is following him or her. Therefore, it's important for an effective leader to understand influence. That way, he or she can use this understanding to become even more skilled at getting things done.

Influencing people is something leaders do on many levels with many different people. All of us try to influence almost everyone we meet in different ways--we try to convince people to like us or to leave us alone, to sign our petition or to think about the educational system. Here are some other things a leader might try to convince people to do:

"Join our coalition."
"Give us money."
"Respect our group."
"Work harder."
"Stop smoking."
"Support youth in the arts."

What other ideas or actions do you, as a leader, try to influence people to believe or do?

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