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Sad, but true: we're one month into the New Year, and many of our shiny new resolutions are already gathering dust.
It doesn't have to be that way.
Many professionals take the time, around the turn of the year, to establish some goals and areas of focus for their work lives.
If you're not already doing this, we highly recommend it as a way to jump-start your motivation and effectiveness! Some familiar goals might sound like these:
- get promoted
- gain exposure to high-profile projects and people
- finally get my ideas heard
- add to my responsibilities
- help my team to be recognized for their hard work
- gain new clients, and increase my business with existing customers
The common thread to these goals? They all rely on influence -- that intangible quality of being able to persuade or "win over" people with whom we have no authority or position power. Indeed, increasing our power to influence is at the core of many business goals and plans.
In today's leaner, flatter organizations, where everyone is trying to do more with less, influence has become quite the hot topic -- for leaders and front line workers as well.
We all have our own style and set of strategies we use when attempting to influence others -- and like many things, these styles fall into several predictable patterns. Of course, we get comfortable with a particular style and tend to use it, even when it's not working. A growing edge for many leaders is recognizing their particular influence style, and then learning how to develop versatility to try different styles and strategies that fit the situation and context.
As a Training and Development professional, you're likely working to increase others' skills to influence. Talk to us . . . what's YOUR approach to teaching influence in your organization?
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CaseCard News
 We are excited to announce that we've been invited to speak at the ASTD International Conference and Expo in Dallas, TX this coming May.
We will be speaking on Wednesday morning, May 22. Our topic is "Reinventing Role Play" -- and if you've been reading this newsletter over the past few months, you've had a sneak preview into some of the ideas we'll be exploring with participants.
So, if you're planning to attend the conference, come to our session! If you won't make it this year, then mark your calendars now to send good vibes our way!
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In the Trenches
Spotlight on Discovery Learning, Inc.
We'd like to give a shout-out to our friends and colleagues at Discovery Learning, Inc. You may already be familiar with this innovative company, which produces simulations and assessments for use in various organizational development initiatives.
One such tool produced is the Influence Style Indicator. The ISI assesses a person's influence style, giving insight into our typical way of behaving and making suggestions about how we might adapt for greater effectiveness. Several facilitators use the wonderful training guide provided with the ISI and supplement it with CaseCard's Influence Deck to give participants practice in a variety of workplace situations.
We love to hear about facilitators who are taking their favorite models and already solid content, and then enriching the possible learning by adding case studies.
If you want to learn more about Discovery Learning, Inc. or the Influence Style Indicator, check them out here!
ISI at Discovery Learning, Inc.
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