'Credibility gives you power': How to communicate with and influence people

All relationships are based on communication – and the more effective that communication is, the more successful you can be in both your professional and personal lives.

If you want to improve your communication skills and get better at influencing people, an upcoming IMechE training course could be for you. Communication and Influencing Skills uses well-established models and theories to highlight the skills, knowledge and behaviours you need, using them as the foundation for an interactive and engaging workshop. 

Phill Slater is one of the course trainers. Here he gives five useful tips to start communicating with and influencing people effectively. 

Understand the power of effective communication

Effective communication is the foundation for building relationships based on trust, respect and mutual understanding. Never underestimate its value for achieving long-term success. If it’s not there, it doesn’t mean you can’t have success, but attaining it will be harder and not as sustainable.

Be present

Make sure you look and sound like you are completely there in any conversation. This means more than being in the room – pay attention to your words, body language and tone. Keep your words concise, your body language open and welcoming, and your tone even and measured.

If you’re not able to be present in a particular moment, it is often better to delay a conversation than to attempt one when you are not able to focus. 

Adapt and connect 

Listen to how other people communicate with you. This is likely to be their preference, particularly when under pressure. For example, some people are comfortable with ambiguity, while others like to be provided with more detail. Try mirroring their style to deepen the connection and build engagement. 

Understand your personal power

When seeking to influence or persuade people, a range of powers are available to you. Depending on the situation and who you are seeking to persuade, choosing the right powers and deploying them effectively could be the catalyst for success.

If you are an engineer working on a project, you might need to influence a key stakeholder to support a decision. In that situation, your powers might be as simple as basic people skills, but they can also include your expertise – you might be the only person who understands how to use a piece of software, or a piece of machinery, and you can point back to previous experiences where you have been successful. That gives you credibility, and credibility gives you power.

Be assertive – but not pushy

Assertiveness is about balance. It’s about being forthright with your wants and needs, while still considering the wants and needs of others. 

When you are being assertive you are self-assured, and you can draw power from this to get your point across firmly, fairly and with empathy. It is a vital tool for your communication toolkit when preparing for and having those critical conversations. Practice makes perfect.

IMechE’s Communication and Influencing Skills course runs in London from 6-7 October and Manchester from 12-13 November. Find out more and book now.