Faith is the Most Powerful Form of Influence

I am fascinated by influence.  When it comes to leadership, there is nothing that holds my attention more than influence.  Influence comes in many forms.  It is subtle, and it is overt; it is gentle, and it is severe; it is gradual, and it is decisive.  Influence is simply a tool that can (and is) wielded by everyone.  So, when I say it is an aspect of leadership that fascinates me, I do not confine my definition of “leadership” to just the corporate variety.

I study influence as best I can.  I look for it as a third-person observer, and I look for it within my own sphere.  I read between the lines of books and articles, trying to find the threads that connect one thing to another and how those threads are used.  There is, of course, a fine line between influence and manipulation, and, to top it off, manipulation is a much-maligned word.  So, I tread lightly less I venture too far into territory I would rather not explore.

In the end, for me, influence is the way that what is best inside of me can touch what is best inside of another such that either one or both (or more) of us can make the most of tomorrow, having been strengthened and inspired by our interaction.  When I am able to influence others, then I know that I have done what I set out to do; I know that I have achieved one of my life’s more nebulous, undefined goals.  If I can influence, then I can hope to inspire.  If I am able to inspire, then perhaps someone else might take a moment to look inside of themselves and find something they did not know existed.  And maybe, just maybe, they can use that something in service to others, to humanity.

By far, my favorite form of influence is to simply have faith in other human beings…faith in their abilities, faith in their spirit, faith in what I believe is the fundamental desire to live in peace and let others live in peace, too.  I believe faith is the most powerful form of influence.