A key part of growing your influence begins with those you interact most with at work. This is important for two reasons. First, many companies will look at peer input as they consider advancement opportunities. If those around you don’t respect you then it’s not likely you’ll get promoted to lead others. Second, if promoted you may be leading your former peers and you want to make sure you have their initial support. It is much easier to move forward quickly when you have initial support and enthusiasm opposed to having to invest months in trying to win back support. The groundwork for this begins from day one on the job, not day one of a new leadership position. Besides being the right thing to do in treating others with respect, it becomes the foundation for building strong relationships at every stage of your career.
The working basis for your work relationships are the same as those you have outside of the office: seek to be authentic and open. This applies whether you are extraverted or if you tend to be more introverted. Being naturally outgoing does not give license to be artificial with people just as being more wired for quietness gives permission to ignore others. You have to find the right balance in what seems true to your personality. It is not unusual for others to sense when someone is being true to themselves so those who recognize you as easygoing will find they enjoy that aspect and those who intuit you are naturally more reserved will appreciate the steps you take to recognize them.
As you find your groove with which your natural personality defaults that best fit your office environment here are a few working tips that may also help:
These are but a few of the ways that you can demonstrate an authenticity that others recognize and will become the basis for their opinion that you are a person of integrity. People of integrity inevitably become worthy of trust and from trust comes the opportunity to influence. As you seek to grow as a person and practice steps such as these you will find that your fellow team members become more and more responsive to you providing a great opportunity for you to invest back in them an grow a strong and positive relationship.