5 Leadership Skills For Making an Impact on Our Circle of Influence

Ever wonder how some people have so manycontrol how long those thoughts stay with us and
friends and other's don't have so many? Everwhat we do with those thoughts. Think about
wondered what you could do to attract morethose around us that always seem positive and
people and be a better influence? There arehappy. Do we really think they have perfect lives
certain techniques we can use to build ourthat are free of difficulties? Not so much. They
relationships, develop our leadership style, and bejust have ways of keeping out of the "dumps"
a great influence on those around us. It's aboutand "funks" of life - Leaders find a way to
our relationship marketing or about how wemanage their mindset, and we can too.
connect with other in our business, personal orNurturing - Nurturing our circle of influence keeps
spiritual lives. When we think of developing ourus connected. Leaders always find a way to stay
inner leader, consider how we treat others, talk toconnected with others. Sometimes the word
others or show respect within our circle of"nurturing" may come with a "female" connotation,
influence.but males can nurture those connections, too. It's
Ask yourself, "Do I feel respected?" In developingreally about finding ways to reach out, stay in
our leadership skills, perhaps we can find sometouch and support each other. It may only take a
tips to strengthen our relationship circles orphone call, a word of encouragement, a quick
support network.email, or a golf game to nurture that relationship.
Kindness - It's important to be kind even to thoseWhatever it takes, step out and make an impact
we have a difficult time being around and workingon those around you. Reaching out speaks
with on a daily basis. When you have anvolumes.
opportunity to be kind to someone who is aOpen-Mindedness -Keep an open mind about
"difficult personality" (you know, thosedifferent perspectives. Many times we encounter
personalities that require a little extra grace),someone we don't agree with or someone who
those on the receiving end may tend to bemakes us angry because they want to do it "our
surprised and internally blessed by your kindness.way". It's important to respect their way of
It's up to us as leaders to be the "bigger person"getting the job done. We have to remember that
and not give into being difficult also...top it off withdifferent people have different work styles,
kindness even when it feels tough and like a testdifferent processes and different lenses through
of your will.which they view life. If we can find a way to see
Lift Up - Lift up others in prayer. Sometimes thetheir process and system with a level of curiosity
easiest way to get along with someone better isor a level of open-mindedness, we might be able
to pray for them. Find time to lift them up into work though difficulties with a little more ease.
prayer even if we don't know what to pray for.Successful Leaders carry a large amount of
The Bible tells us to pray for our enemies, sorespect for differing styles even when they don't
whether those around us are our "best friend" oragree with where we stand. Of course, there
if they really challenge us to the core, we canmay be certain situations where open-mindedness
encourage silently by finding a way to pray forisn't always possible, but a discerning leader will be
them. If we don't know what to specifically pray,able to know when to step back and allow a little
then we might ask for guidance and wisdom forfreedom.
being a positive impact and encouragement to thisHopefully, we can each adapt some of these
person. Lifting someone up in prayer will have anABC's to our own relationships and begin to
incredible impact in more ways than we canstrengthen the impact we're making on those
imagine.around us. There is an inner leader in each of us
Manage Mindsets - Our mind is truly a battlefield.and it's important to grow and tweak our
We cannot control the negative thoughts doubts,leadership skills, so we can set a great example
worries, etc. that come our way, but we CANfor those we influence.