Impact is defined as an “influence or effect”. Personal impact is literally the influence or effect you have on others. That impact can be positive or negative. Positive personal impact is crucial for success. It is the quality that enables you to influence others and your surroundings, achieve results and be an effective leader. The key is to recognize the impact you’re having on others then adapt your personal impact to get the results you want.
How do you know if you have positive, personal impact? Ask yourself: when you walk in a room are you able to grab people’s attention and keep it? When you speak do people listen as if they can’t get enough or, do they almost immediately have somewhere else they need to be? If you fall into the second group, you’re not alone. There are several factors that can significantly increase your personal impact quotient. The primary factors are self-confidence, authenticity and likeability.
Self-confidence is at the core of personal impact. When people believe in themselves and their abilities, they are able to convey that self-confidence to others. When you are confident in your own abilities, you garner trust from those around you as well. The way you feel about yourself is projected outward by you in so many ways and has an immense impact on how others perceive you.
If you believe in yourself and your abilities, you carry yourself in an entirely different manner than if you don’t. Your body language is strong and open, your vocabulary choices are more positive, you have better eye contact— the list goes on and on. You are comfortable in your own skin and your confidence shines through.
Authenticity plays a key role in positive impact. People with positive personal impact are authentic. This goes back to self-confidence in that you are comfortable with whom you are and do not feel the need to put on airs or try to make yourself into what you think others want you to be. You walk your talk. People pleasers or those who say one thing but do another rarely have impact. If they do have it, it is short-lived. Once people realize they are not authentic their ability to influence others flies right out the window. People are more likely to trust you when they feel they really know who you are.
Likeability is another key to whether or not you wield impact and influence. The more people like you the more willing they are to listen to your ideas and say “yes” to you. So how can you maximize your likeability factor?
You are no longer selling yourself, your goods or services just to the neighbor across the street. You are very likely competing for business around the world. In this competitive marketplace your ability to get that job/order is in direct correlation with the impact and influence you wield. Make sure your impact quotient is a positive one.
Debbie Darling, ©2015 The Presentation Pros
Read more of The Presentation Pros blog HERE.
Self-confidence is at the core of personal impact. When people believe in themselves and their abilities, they are able to convey that self-confidence to others. When you are confident in your own abilities, you garner trust from those around you as well. The way you feel about yourself is projected outward by you in so many ways and has an immense impact on how others perceive you.
If you believe in yourself and your abilities, you carry yourself in an entirely different manner than if you don’t. Your body language is strong and open, your vocabulary choices are more positive, you have better eye contact— the list goes on and on. You are comfortable in your own skin and your confidence shines through.
Authenticity plays a key role in positive impact. People with positive personal impact are authentic. This goes back to self-confidence in that you are comfortable with whom you are and do not feel the need to put on airs or try to make yourself into what you think others want you to be. You walk your talk. People pleasers or those who say one thing but do another rarely have impact. If they do have it, it is short-lived. Once people realize they are not authentic their ability to influence others flies right out the window. People are more likely to trust you when they feel they really know who you are.
Likeability is another key to whether or not you wield impact and influence. The more people like you the more willing they are to listen to your ideas and say “yes” to you. So how can you maximize your likeability factor?
- Be friendly—You might think this goes without saying, but so many people do not project a friendly, open demeanor or only express one when they think it matters. It matters all the time. Be genuinely friendly and nice to everyone—even if they can’t help you in any way, shape or form. Don’t leave the house without a Smile. It really is your best accessory.
- Search for common ground—People like people who are like them. Make a point to find the common ground. This increases your chances for likeability.
- Grooming—Like it or not, you are judged on your appearance. Make sure you are well-groomed at all time. This is one of the top three indicators of high self-esteem and self-confidence. Make sure you look your best at all times.
- Listen with interest—Ask open ended questions of the other person without being intrusive. Be genuinely interested in what they have to say and let them do most of the talking. When you make it more about them and less about you, you create likeability.
- Walk a mile in their moccasins—Demonstrate empathy. Be genuinely concerned with what is going on in their lives. Create an emotional connection with them. Try to see things from their perspective as well as your own.
- Have a positive attitude—People like to be around people who have a positive attitude. Be someone who helps lift people out of the doldrums instead of someone who helps keep them there or even worse digs the hole for them to jump into. Always try to find the best in people and their ideas.
- Compliment others—Make sure you find something in another that you can genuinely compliment them for—“genuinely” being the opportune word. The more you look for those things you can compliment in others the more you will see to compliment.
- Be kind and courteous—People who are kind and courteous focus on the well-being of others. When you make the other person your priority it increases your likeability factor immensely.
You are no longer selling yourself, your goods or services just to the neighbor across the street. You are very likely competing for business around the world. In this competitive marketplace your ability to get that job/order is in direct correlation with the impact and influence you wield. Make sure your impact quotient is a positive one.
Debbie Darling, ©2015 The Presentation Pros
Read more of The Presentation Pros blog HERE.
