Cultivate influence by earning respect first
Early in her career, Carmen sat through meetings and stayed quiet, pride wounded by past rejections. She switched tactics—she volunteered to draft meeting minutes and delivered them flawlessly. Gradually, she earned a reputation for reliability. When she saw an opportunity for process improvement, she approached her boss for input rather than demanding change. Because she’d proven herself with small wins, he listened. Months later, she pitched a major overhaul of their information system—and this time got the green light. Research confirms this approach: people are far more open to hearing your big ideas once they see you make good on small ones. You build status through consistent contributions, shielding you from backlash when you challenge the status quo.
Focus first on delivering reliable, high-impact micro-wins that show you care. Then ask for feedback before presenting a major change. You’ll find that credibility multiplies your influence, turning small victories into a foundation for revolutionary ideas.
What You'll Achieve
You’ll boost your credibility and uncover receptive audiences for your suggestions, leading to smoother adoption of big ideas.
Build status before speaking up
Champion low-risk wins
Offer to lead a small project that matters to your team—scheduling meetings, organizing notes, or troubleshooting a minor issue. Deliver on time and exceed expectations.
Highlight your impact
After each success, share concise updates that link the win to team goals. For instance, “By reorganizing our project tracker, we reduced status-update time by 20%.”
Solicit feedback on solutions
When you spot a bigger problem, frame it as a request for advice: “I’ve been thinking about improving our client onboarding—could I get your thoughts on a draft plan?”
Propose strategic ideas
Having earned credibility, present your original suggestion. People who saw you deliver on smaller initiatives are now more likely to listen to larger ideas.
Reflection Questions
- What small win could you deliver this week to build trust?
- How will you share your impact without overselling?
- Who can you ask for feedback before proposing a major change?
Personalization Tips
- At work, reformat a slide deck to save your manager 5 minutes at each report, then ask about upgrading the whole reporting process.
- In a volunteer group, handle event logistics flawlessly, then propose a new outreach approach that requires more leadership input.
- Within your family, plan a smooth holiday budget, then suggest tackling long-term financial goals together.
Originals: How Non-Conformists Move the World
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