We have reached the final chapter of the six-part series that is Emotional Intelligence for Leaders. If you haven’t already, go check out our past articles where we’ve dissected piece-by-piece of what it means to perceive, understand, and manage emotions in ourselves in others.
The sixth component of Emotional Intelligence is Positive Influence, and it’s described by Genos International as “positively influencing the way others feel through problem solving, feedback, recognizing and supporting others’ work.” Positive Influence involves creating a positive working environment, as well as helping others stay resilient in upsetting events and help them resolve issues that hinder performance. It equips you with the capacity to encourage colleagues to cooperate and work effectively together. People who can positively influence others’ moods, feelings and emotions are empowering to work with and easily motivate those around them.
Positive Influence is also the result of the previous components of Emotional Intelligence working in unison. If you are aware and present-minded in your place, while being empathetic towards others as well, you allow yourself to be genuine with every interaction you take, expansive with your decision-making, and resilient when things don’t go your way.
How A Positive Influence Changed Apple
Numerous companies, organizations and brands throughout history have experienced radical change as a result of positive change as it allowed them to be what they are today. No other company exemplifies this than the technological monolith of a brand that is Apple, formerly led by the late Steve Jobs.
Steve Jobs’ positive influence skills were evident in many aspects of his leadership at Apple. He was known for his ability to clearly articulate his vision for the company and to inspire others to share in his passion for innovation. He was also able to delegate tasks and responsibilities effectively, and provided support and guidance to his team as needed, whether it was for product development, marketing, finance, etc.
One example of how Jobs’ positive influence contributed to Apple’s success was the development of the iPhone, which revolutionized the way people communicated with others; no longer limited to just cellular calls, but to utilize the internet and eventually pave way to social media. During the time of its launch, there was an unprecedented amount of doubt and many critics believe it would flop, but Jobs remained steadfast, and that culture permeated throughout the entire company. Jobs was able to clearly articulate his vision for the iPhone and to inspire his team to bring it to fruition. He also provided support and guidance to his team as they worked to develop and launch the product.
In addition to his leadership skills, Jobs was also able to build strong and supportive relationships with others. He fostered a culture of collaboration and teamwork at Apple, and was able to effectively negotiate and resolve conflicts as they arose. This helped to create a positive and productive work environment, which contributed to the company’s success.
In 1994, Steve Jobs sat down for an interview with the Rolling Stone, and when asked if he believes in the potential of technology, he said yes, but made the argument that the key to unlocking its potential is in people.
“Technology is nothing. What’s important is that you have faith in people, that they’re basically good and smart — and if you give them tools, they’ll do wonderful things with them,” he said. “Tools are just tools. They either work, or they don’t work.”
It’s this basic belief in people that allowed Steve Jobs to create such a magnetic influence in his company. It allowed him to hire the right people and trust that they will perform, inspired them to pursue excellence, to remain humble but focused, and to engage in a humanely way.
Overall, Steve Jobs’ strong positive influence skills played a crucial role in Apple’s success. By inspiring and motivating his team, building supportive relationships, and effectively leading and communicating with others, through the basic premise of having faith in them, he was able to drive the company’s growth and innovation.
Becoming A Positive Influence
There are several ways in which individuals can develop their positive influence skills. One key strategy is to learn to effectively communicate and share one’s thoughts, feelings, and ideas with others. This may involve learning active listening skills, as well as developing effective verbal and nonverbal communication techniques.
In addition, it is important to be able to lead and inspire others towards a common goal. This may involve setting clear goals and objectives, and creating a vision for success that others can share. It may also involve being able to delegate tasks and responsibilities effectively, and being able to provide support and guidance to others as needed.
Another key aspect of positive influence is the ability to foster positive and supportive relationships with others. This may involve being able to build trust and respect with others, as well as being able to resolve conflicts and negotiate effectively.
Overall, positive influence is an important aspect of emotional intelligence that enables individuals to effectively inspire, motivate, and influence others in a positive way. By developing these skills, individuals can become more effective leaders and build stronger, more supportive relationships with others.
