Influence

Definition

Influence is the capacity to have an effect on the character, development, or behavior of someone or something. In the context of transformational, visionary, and charismatic leadership, influence refers to the ability of leaders to inspire, motivate, and guide their followers to achieve organizational goals and enact positive change.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. Transformational leaders use influence to inspire and motivate followers to transcend their own self-interests for the good of the organization.
2. Visionary leaders employ influence to paint a compelling picture of the future and guide their followers towards that shared vision.
3. Charismatic leaders leverage their personal charm and appeal to exert influence over their followers, often through effective communication and emotional connection.
4. Influential leaders are able to build trust, respect, and loyalty among their followers, enabling them to effectively lead change and drive organizational success.
5. The ability to influence others is a critical skill for leaders, as it allows them to shape the attitudes, behaviors, and actions of their followers.

Review Questions

• Explain how transformational leaders use influence to inspire and motivate their followers.
  • Transformational leaders use their influence to inspire and motivate followers by appealing to their higher-order needs and values. They articulate a compelling vision for the future, demonstrate confidence in their followers' abilities, and encourage them to think critically and challenge the status quo. Through this process, transformational leaders are able to transform their followers' self-interests into a shared sense of purpose, ultimately driving them to achieve organizational goals that go beyond their own personal interests.
• Describe how visionary leaders employ influence to guide their followers towards a shared vision.
  • Visionary leaders use their influence to paint a clear and compelling picture of the future, which they then use to guide their followers towards a shared vision. By communicating this vision in a way that resonates with their followers' values and aspirations, visionary leaders are able to generate enthusiasm and commitment. They then leverage their influence to align the organization's resources and activities towards the realization of this vision, empowering their followers to contribute to the collective effort.
• Analyze how charismatic leaders leverage their personal charm and appeal to exert influence over their followers.
  • Charismatic leaders possess a unique ability to exert influence over their followers through their personal charm and appeal. They often use effective communication, emotional connection, and a strong sense of self-confidence to captivate their followers. By cultivating a magnetic personality and projecting an aura of power and success, charismatic leaders are able to inspire loyalty and devotion, motivating their followers to go above and beyond in pursuit of the leader's vision. This influence allows charismatic leaders to drive significant change and mobilize their followers towards ambitious goals.

Related terms

Charisma: A special charm or appeal that can inspire devotion in others, often associated with transformational and visionary leaders.

Inspiration: The process of being mentally stimulated to do or feel something, especially to do something creative.

Motivation: The reason or reasons one has for acting or behaving in a particular way, the general desire or willingness of someone to do something.