Influence isn't about views; it's the 'high likelihood of compliance with requests.' Build it using the SPCL framework: Status (control scarce resources), Power (give advice that works), Credibility (show third-party proof), and Likeness (be relatable). Each component stacks to increase influence.
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Don't treat influence as a vague metric like followers. Define it operationally as the probability that your audience will take a desired action—from a 'like' to a purchase. All content should aim to increase this probability.
True power comes from 'say-do correspondence.' When you tell someone to do something and a good thing happens for them as a result, they are psychologically conditioned to comply with your future requests. This earned influence is far more potent than inherited status.
The true measure of a thought leader's impact is not social media engagement but the adoption of their ideas and language by influential figures. When politicians or industry leaders begin to use your specific phrasing or champion your core arguments, it serves as a qualitative but powerful indicator that you are genuinely shaping the broader discourse.
Generic social proof like "1 million customers" is minimally effective. The key is to tailor the message to the user's identity. We are most influenced by people like ourselves, so messages like "other doctors in Sydney" or "your neighbors" have a much stronger impact.
Parents have immense influence because they perfectly embody the SPCL framework. They have Status (control of resources), Power (countless reinforcement cycles of good advice), Credibility (domain expertise), and Likeness (genetic similarity). This explains why their influence persists even into adulthood.
Parents are the ultimate influencers because they perfectly model the SPCL framework. They control scarce resources (Status), their advice prevents harm (Power), and they are biologically similar (Likeness), making them a powerful real-world case study for building influence.
Building influence requires a strategic approach. Actively survey your professional relationships, identify where you lack connections with stakeholders, and methodically invest time in building alliances with leaders who can advocate for your ideas when you're not in the room.
When transitioning into a new role, especially a cross-functional one like product, relying on a title is a weak foundation for credibility. Earning respect through informal authority—by demonstrating value and influence—builds a much stronger and more lasting leadership position.
True influence isn't about chasing views. It's built on a framework of four key elements: Status (controlling scarce resources), Power (your advice gets results), Credibility (objective proof), and Likeness (relatability).
When meeting an influential person with opposing views, effectiveness trumps the need to be 'right.' The best strategy is to suppress personal indignation and identify a shared interest. Propose a policy or idea within that common ground that they might be receptive to and champion as their own.
