Influencing...or..Infuriating??

...Electioning campaign is currently underway not in Tamilnadu or in Kerala, but right here at ISB for a far more important job ..:) President of the Graduate Student Board!! I am not contesting because I've not come here for that - however, there are few brilliant chaps in the fray contesting for the coveted post.

I always wonder how some people influence others effortlessly, while some others infuriate people using their influencing skills. I have tried to understand this aspect, and realized the best way to do so is grab a good book from the library. I found one - a lucky one on Influencing skills, written by a famous psychologist. I am sharing those principles with few of my insights and experiences: (this might make us even beware of the traps!!)

- Contrasting Principle: It's common sense but many people don't realize that everything is relative. For example, if you are interviewed for a job interview after a relatively smarter person than you, the chances of you impressing the interviewer are meagre..and ofcourse, vice-versa..Imagine how you would feel watching a good song after a bad song and bad song after a good song - the feeings are different and not absolute even though the songs are the same!!

- Reciprocation Principle: When you take a favor from other person, there is an irresistible human urge to reciprocate. So naturally, people who help others are most influential in courting favors back!!

- Commitment & Consistency: People are more consistent after they get committed. Remember, friction is higher at the beginning than in the middle or at the end. So, the important thing to do first is to get committed to doing something worthwhile, and then watch magic happen!!

- Authority: It is natural to respect authority and people in power. People do so subconsciously. Hence, authority or power isn't bad afterall :)

- Social Power: Birds of the same feather flock together - that's more true while influencing people. People subconsciouly are influenced by majority, there is nothing wrong with it..but just be aware of it

- Liking: To be blunt, people do things for you if they like you..('Liking' can be along different aspects - Physical attraction, Similarilty in some way...)

- Scarcity: Anything that is scarce and rare is supposedly precious and sought after..(which need not be). Avoid the temptation of useless scarcity..!!

tata...Satish

P.S: Why I read the book in the first case was because my LDP feedback pointed that my assertive and influencing skills need to be improved...:) The rest of the feedback was amazing, and ofcourse, I felt good about it..!! A big fat Thank you to all those who gave me the honest and genuine feedback.