Demystifying Leadership Series: Defining Influence

Everything rises and falls on influence.

Nothing will impact your professional and personal life more than your ability to influence others. The more influence you have, the more options you will have. Life is always better with more options.

Are you looking for transformation in your life, your team, your organization? Do you want better results? Do you want to build a team that works for each other and with each other?

In Defining Influence, everyone at any level within any industry will absolutely learn how to increase their influence. You will learn the foundational principles of leadership (influence) which will help you understand the importance of the following five questions.

1.Why do we influence? – Our character determines why we influence. Who we are on the inside is what matters. Do we manipulate or motivate? It’s all about intent.

2.How do we influence? – Our character, combined with our competency, determines how we influence. Who we are and what we know combine to create our unique style of influence which determines our methods of influence.

3.Where do we influence? – Our passion and purpose determine where we have the greatest influence. What motivates and inspires us gives us the energy and authenticity to motivate and inspire others.

4.Who do we influence? – We influence those who buy-in to us. Only those valuing and seeking what we value and seek will volunteer to follow us. They give us or deny us permission to influence them based on how well we have developed our character and competency.

5.When do we influence? – We influence others when they want our influence. We choose when others influence us. Everyone else has the same choice. They decide when to accept or reject our influence. We only influence others when they want to change.

The first three questions are about the choices we make as we lead (influence) ourselves and others. The last two questions deal more with the choices others will make as they decide first, if they will follow us, and second, when they will follow us. They will base their choices on who we are and what we know.

Asking these questions is important. Knowing the answers is more important. But, taking action based on the answers is most important.

Collectively, the answers to these questions determine our leadership style and our level of influence (leadership).

Mack's story is an amazing journey of personal and professional growth. He married Ria in 2001. He has one son, Eric, born in 1991. After graduating high school in 1987, Mack joined the United States Marine Corps Reserve as an 0311 infantryman. Soon after, he began his 20 plus year manufacturing career. Graduating with highest honors, he earned an Executive Bachelor of Business Administration degree from Faulkner University. Mack began his career in manufacturing in 1988 on the front lines of a large production machine shop. He eventually grew himself into upper management and found his niche in lean manufacturing and along with it, developed his passion for leadership. In 2008, he launched his own Lean Manufacturing and Leadership Development firm. From 2005-2012, Mack led leaders and their cross-functional teams through more than 11,000 hours of process improvement, organizational change, and cultural transformation. Ria joined Mack full-time in late 2013. In 2013, they worked with John C. Maxwell as part of an international training event focused on the Cultural Transformation in Guatemala where over 20,000 leaders were trained. They also shared the stage with internationally recognized motivational speaker Les Brown in 2014. Mack and Ria have published 22 books on personal growth and leadership development and publish more each year. In 2018, they reached 65,000 international followers on LinkedIn where they provide daily motivational, inspirational, and leadership content to people all over the world. Mack and Ria Founded TopStoryLeadership.com in 2008. Mack Founded Blue-Collar Leadership.com in 2016 to specifically support the blue-collar industries. Clients: ATD (Association for Talent Development), Auburn University, Chevron, Chick-fil-A, Kimberly Clark, Koch Industries, Southern Company, and the U.S. Military. Mack is an inspiration for people everywhere as an example of achievement, growth, and personal development. His passion motivates and inspires people all over the world!