Ever been in a room where you had the ideas, vision, and talent to drive change but lacked the influence to do it? You’re not alone. Many of us, especially multicultural leaders in diverse workplaces, feel overlooked at times. It’s frustrating, but here’s the breakthrough: you can turn it around.
Influence isn’t about waiting for someone to hand you authority; it’s about creating your own. It's about building social capital and a personal brand. It should make people see your value and seek your leadership. Here’s your blueprint for building influence—even when you feel like you don’t have any.
1. Become the expert others turn to.
One of the fastest ways to gain influence is to be the go-to expert in your field. If people always seek your advice, they see you as credible and influential. Focus on your strengths and leverage them to add value.
Reflect:
What are my strongest skills or areas of expertise?
What problems can I solve that will make others’ lives easier?
How can I make sure to offer value in these areas every time I show up?
When you make it a habit to share your expertise, people start to see you as a valuable resource. The more you help others, the greater your influence becomes.
Take Action: Offer to lead a workshop, webinar, or a lunch-and-learn on a topic you love. When you add value, people will seek your insights and support.
2. Build authentic relationships—your network is your net worth.
Influence requires your knowledge, connections, and the recognition of others. Your network is one of your most powerful assets when building influence. It's not enough to have connections. It's about building real, authentic relationships. When people know and trust your capabilities, they’ll advocate for you—even when you’re not in the room.
Don’t network for the sake of it. Invest time in understanding others’ stories, goals, and challenges. Building trust makes you someone people want to connect with and support.
Take Action: Set a goal to connect with one new person each week. Reach out to someone whose work you admire or someone from a different team. Invite them for coffee (even a virtual one). Then, have an honest chat about their career, journey, or interests. These connections plant seeds that grow into meaningful, influential relationships.
3. Consistency is key—show up and be seen.
In meetings, on social media, and at events, being consistent is key to building influence. You can't show up once and expect people to remember you. You must stay visible, using your voice to add value in every interaction. Think of the leaders you admire. They are the ones who always show up and make a big impact.
If you want to build influence, you must commit to showing up, even when it feels like no one’s paying attention (yet).
Take Action: Choose one or two platforms where you can show up and be consistent. It might be LinkedIn for thought leadership. Or internal meetings to share your ideas. Develop a plan for regular engagement. Post insights, join discussions, and be a visible presence.
4. Amplify Others Before You Amplify Yourself
Elevating others. When you champion the success of others, you build goodwill and trust. People connect with those who uplift and support them. They are more likely to reciprocate when you need it.
Support could mean sharing someone's social media posts. It could also mean giving them credit in meetings. Or, it could mean advocating for their work behind the scenes. By becoming known as a leader who uplifts others, you build a reputation that opens doors.
Take Action: This week, find three people in your network. Their work should inspire you. Amplify their achievements.Nurture relationships through subtle yet powerful actions. Backstage support lays the foundation. Public praise in meetings reinforces bonds. Social media shout-outs amplify connection. These genuine gestures build strong, enduring partnerships.
5. Use storytelling to build your personal brand.
People remember stories far more than they remember facts. If you want to build influence and a personal brand that resonates, learn how to tell your story. Your experiences, challenges, and successes are what make you relatable and memorable.
When you share stories about your journey, you give others a glimpse into who you are and what you stand for. It’s not about self-promotion; it’s about being genuine and human. The more people feel like they know the person behind the ideas, the more they’ll want to follow your lead.
Take Action: The next time you share an insight or perspective, connect it to a personal story. Use your story to illustrate your point. It will make your LinkedIn post or team presentation more relatable. This approach builds a deeper connection with your audience and strengthens your influence.
6. Seek out leadership opportunities—Even when they’re not handed to you.
You don’t need a title to lead. Influence often comes from taking the initiative. This is true even if it's not in your job description. Look for chances to step up. Lead a project, mentor a colleague, or volunteer for a committee.
Stepping up to lead shows you can and want to exceed expectations. It demonstrates that others can trust you with more responsibility. It creates opportunities for you to influence and lead.
Take Action: Identify gaps in your organization where you can add value. Is there a team needing support, a project that’s stalled, or an initiative looking for a leader? Volunteer your skills and take charge. Being proactive builds influence by demonstrating leadership, initiative, and reliability.
7. Follow through—reliability builds influence.
Influence grows when people know they can count on you. Following up and following through are simple but powerful. They build credibility and trust. Consistent delivery builds trust. And, trust is the key to lasting influence.
In a busy work environment, it’s easy to let things slip through the cracks. But making a habit of following up shows that you’re dependable and committed to adding value.
Take Action: Whenever you commit to something, set a reminder to follow up. Make it a habit. Always send a thank-you note after a meeting. Check in on a project. Deliver on a promise. Consistency in these small actions builds long-term influence.
Building Influence: Create Your Path
Influence isn’t something handed to you, and it’s not tied to a title. It’s about showing up, building relationships, and adding value—over and over again. Focusing on connection, consistency, and authenticity builds your social capital and brand. Others will have to notice it.
Even if you feel like you don’t have influence right now, you have the power to create it. You don't need permission to build your brand, connect with your network, and be confident. Step by step, you’ll build the influence you deserve and become the leader you’re meant to be.
So, what’s one bold action you’ll take today to start building your influence? Go for it—you have the skills, the drive, and the vision to make it happen.
