{"id":17494,"date":"2024-10-23T09:00:47","date_gmt":"2024-10-23T14:00:47","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.bbinsurance.com\/?post_type=insight&p=17494"},"modified":"2024-10-23T09:00:47","modified_gmt":"2024-10-23T14:00:47","slug":"mastering-influence-guiding-without-overpowering","status":"publish","type":"insight","link":"https:\/\/www.bbrown.com\/us\/insight\/mastering-influence-guiding-without-overpowering\/","title":{"rendered":"Mastering Influence: Guiding Without Overpowering"},"content":{"rendered":"

Mastering Influence: Guiding Without Overpowering
\n<\/b>by Julie Turpin, Chief People Officer at Brown & Brown Insurance<\/em><\/p>\n

\n

Does this sound plausible? A room full of brilliant minds gathered to solve a complex problem, using their unique perspectives and experiences, all reach the same conclusion.<\/p>\n

I saw it happen firsthand.<\/p>\n

At a recent conference I attended, a keynote speaker casually mentioned a business problem their company was facing. The next day, attendees were asked to brainstorm solutions to known industry problems. Interestingly, several groups gravitated toward the same problem the speaker had mentioned. It was a powerful example of how even a passing mention can influence collective thinking, steering teams toward particular solutions.<\/p>\n

It makes you wonder: had that example never been given, what other ideas could have emerged from the room?<\/p>\n

This story speaks volumes about the power of influence \u2014 especially the often-unnoticed influence that leaders can wield. Influence is the ability to shape the thoughts, decisions and actions of others, often without realizing it.<\/p>\n

It\u2019s not about force or control but rather about the subtle, sometimes unconscious, effect our words and behavior have on those around us. In his book The Gift of Influence: Creating Life-Changing and Lasting Impact in Your Everyday Interactions<\/em>, Tommy Spaulding notes that the average person influences 80,000 people over their lifetime. For leaders, that number is likely higher. And yet, most don\u2019t realize how easily their words can shape the thinking and decisions of those around them.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

\n

Wielding influence wisely<\/strong><\/p>\n

As leaders, we must become stewards of our influence, recognizing its impact and learning to deploy it thoughtfully. Two cornerstones of being a vulnerable leader<\/span><\/a> are choosing your words wisely and embracing curiosity. The words you use can shape the mindset of your team and unintentionally guide them toward narrow perspectives; they can also create a space for innovation, collaboration and growth.<\/p>\n

Being a thoughtful steward of your influence starts with asking yourself three critical questions:<\/p>\n

    \n
  1. Am I aware of the influence I carry in my organization? On my team?<\/li>\n
  2. Do I know when to use it and when to step back?<\/li>\n
  3. Am I deliberate about how and why I exert my influence?<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

    Understanding where the line between guiding and controlling is drawn is important. This \u201cinternal governor\u201d can help you deploy your influence for the right reasons and in the right way, always with consideration and kindness. Remember, not every situation requires your hand; sometimes, stepping back allows others to thrive. As leaders, our job is to build an environment where others feel empowered to offer their ideas.<\/p>\n

    Empowering teams to navigate influence<\/strong><\/p>\n

    Being leaders doesn\u2019t always mean we are the smartest in the room. In fact, \u201csmart\u201d team building involves surrounding yourself with people who bring different expertise, experiences, perspectives and skills than you. Your job as a leader is to empower and give your team the skills they need to grow<\/a><\/span>.<\/p>\n

    I\u2019ve always said that I don\u2019t want \u201cyes\u201d people. If everyone on my team agrees with me, I\u2019m only getting the best of me back, and that\u2019s not where innovation and growth happen. Encouraging diverse perspectives means giving your team the tools to challenge ideas, including your own, and empowering them to resist the automatic pull of influence when necessary.<\/p>\n

    A great example of this is Brown & Brown\u2019s Aspiring Leaders Program. During one of the test cases, I told the participants, \u201cI\u2019m going to send you some notes, but don\u2019t fall for the power of persuasion. Please don\u2019t take the data I\u2019m sharing as the answer. Weigh it just as you would everything else.\u201d My goal was to ensure they wouldn\u2019t let my input override their critical thinking.<\/p>\n

    With my day-to-day team, I try to provide the same openness. If I catch myself saying, \u201cHere\u2019s an idea,\u201d I make sure to remind them that my input is there to support their thinking, not direct it. It\u2019s a deliberate effort to separate suggestions from directives because guiding our teams to resist the automatic acceptance of influence helps build resilience, independence and, ultimately, better decision-making.<\/p>\n

    3 strategies to guide and refine your influence<\/strong><\/p>\n

    Once you are aware of the power you hold as a leader, learning to manage that power thoughtfully is where the real work begins. You can do this through intentionality, reflection and leveling.<\/p>\n

    \u25cf Level your degree of influence to each situation: <\/strong>Not every situation requires the same level of influence. Sometimes, stepping back allows others to take ownership and grow. Understanding how to \u201clevel\u201d your influence based on the needs of the moment is a critical skill that helps ensure your leadership presence isn\u2019t overpowering when it doesn\u2019t need to be.<\/p>\n

    \u25cf Check your intention: <\/strong>A leadership coach once told me to always ask myself, \u201cWhat is my intention here?\u201d This simple question forces you to identify the motivations behind your actions. Are you moving forward with the greater good in mind, or is there a personal agenda creeping in? When you recognize that your influence carries weight, especially in a leadership role, it becomes easier to steer it in a direction that benefits others. If your intention is good, proceed. If not, recalibrate.<\/p>\n

    \u25cf Reflect on past influence: <\/strong>How has your influence shaped outcomes in the past? Looking at whether your influence led to positive outcomes or unexpected directions in the past can help guide how you deploy it in the future. Consider the influence you\u2019ve exerted and how others have influenced you. How did it feel?<\/em> Reflecting on both sides of influence gives you a clearer understanding of when and how to use it effectively, and repetition and practice will help you perfect this skill<\/a>.<\/span><\/p>\n

    Leading with influence is an art<\/strong><\/p>\n

    Influence is an inherent part of leadership, but how we choose to wield it is what defines us as leaders. By being intentional, reflective and adaptable, we can guide our teams without overpowering their ideas or squashing their potential innovation. The most effective leaders aren\u2019t those who dominate every conversation or direct every decision \u2014 they\u2019re the ones who know when to step back, let others lead and allow influence to serve the greater good.<\/p>\n

    \"\"<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

    PurposeFULL Leadership
    \n<\/strong>How Personal & Professional Growth Can Help You Lead A Fullfilled Life
    \nby Julie Turpin, Chief People Officer at Brown & Brown Insurance<\/em><\/p>\n

    Subscribe to Julie’s PurposeFULL Leadership and view this blog on LinkedIn here<\/strong><\/a><\/span>.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

    Learn how effective leadership means guiding, stepping back, and empowering independent thinking in Julie Turpin’s latest newsletter.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":45,"featured_media":17495,"template":"","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"inline_featured_image":false,"footnotes":""},"insight_category":[133],"class_list":["post-17494","insight","type-insight","status-publish","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","insight_category-thought-leadership"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\nMastering Influence: Guiding Without Overpowering - Brown & Brown<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Learn how effective leadership means guiding, stepping back, and empowering independent thinking in Julie Turpin's latest newsletter.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.bbrown.com\/us\/insight\/mastering-influence-guiding-without-overpowering\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Mastering Influence: Guiding Without Overpowering\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Learn how effective leadership means guiding, stepping back, and empowering independent thinking in Julie Turpin's latest newsletter.\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/www.bbrown.com\/us\/insight\/mastering-influence-guiding-without-overpowering\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"Brown & Brown\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:image\" content=\"https:\/\/www.bbrown.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/image-1.png\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:width\" content=\"1280\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:height\" content=\"720\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:type\" content=\"image\/png\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"Est. reading time\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"6 minutes\" \/>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"yoast-schema-graph\">{\"@context\":\"https:\/\/schema.org\",\"@graph\":[{\"@type\":\"WebPage\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.bbrown.com\/us\/insight\/mastering-influence-guiding-without-overpowering\/\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/www.bbrown.com\/us\/insight\/mastering-influence-guiding-without-overpowering\/\",\"name\":\"Mastering Influence: Guiding Without Overpowering - Brown & Brown\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.bbrown.com\/us\/#website\"},\"primaryImageOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.bbrown.com\/us\/insight\/mastering-influence-guiding-without-overpowering\/#primaryimage\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.bbrown.com\/us\/insight\/mastering-influence-guiding-without-overpowering\/#primaryimage\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"https:\/\/www.bbrown.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/image-1.png\",\"datePublished\":\"2024-10-23T14:00:47+00:00\",\"description\":\"Learn how effective leadership means guiding, stepping back, and empowering independent thinking in Julie Turpin's latest newsletter.\",\"breadcrumb\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.bbrown.com\/us\/insight\/mastering-influence-guiding-without-overpowering\/#breadcrumb\"},\"inLanguage\":\"us\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"ReadAction\",\"target\":[\"https:\/\/www.bbrown.com\/us\/insight\/mastering-influence-guiding-without-overpowering\/\"]}]},{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"us\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.bbrown.com\/us\/insight\/mastering-influence-guiding-without-overpowering\/#primaryimage\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/www.bbrown.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/image-1.png\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\/\/www.bbrown.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/image-1.png\",\"width\":1280,\"height\":720},{\"@type\":\"BreadcrumbList\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.bbrown.com\/us\/insight\/mastering-influence-guiding-without-overpowering\/#breadcrumb\",\"itemListElement\":[{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":1,\"name\":\"Home\",\"item\":\"https:\/\/www.bbrown.com\/us\/\"},{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":2,\"name\":\"Insights\",\"item\":\"https:\/\/www.bbrown.com\/us\/news-events\/\"},{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":3,\"name\":\"Mastering Influence: Guiding Without Overpowering\"}]},{\"@type\":\"WebSite\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.bbrown.com\/us\/#website\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/www.bbrown.com\/us\/\",\"name\":\"Brown & Brown\",\"description\":\"\",\"publisher\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.bbrown.com\/us\/#organization\"},\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"SearchAction\",\"target\":{\"@type\":\"EntryPoint\",\"urlTemplate\":\"https:\/\/www.bbrown.com\/us\/?s={search_term_string}\"},\"query-input\":{\"@type\":\"PropertyValueSpecification\",\"valueRequired\":true,\"valueName\":\"search_term_string\"}}],\"inLanguage\":\"us\"},{\"@type\":\"Organization\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.bbrown.com\/us\/#organization\",\"name\":\"Brown & Brown\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/www.bbrown.com\/us\/\",\"logo\":{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"us\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.bbrown.com\/us\/#\/schema\/logo\/image\/\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/www.bbrown.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/cropped-BBRetail002-RGBrevs.png\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\/\/www.bbrown.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/cropped-BBRetail002-RGBrevs.png\",\"width\":1000,\"height\":136,\"caption\":\"Brown & Brown\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.bbrown.com\/us\/#\/schema\/logo\/image\/\"}}]}<\/script>\n<!-- \/ Yoast SEO Premium plugin. -->","yoast_head_json":{"title":"Mastering Influence: Guiding Without Overpowering - Brown & Brown","description":"Learn how effective leadership means guiding, stepping back, and empowering independent thinking in Julie Turpin's latest newsletter.","robots":{"index":"index","follow":"follow","max-snippet":"max-snippet:-1","max-image-preview":"max-image-preview:large","max-video-preview":"max-video-preview:-1"},"canonical":"https:\/\/www.bbrown.com\/us\/insight\/mastering-influence-guiding-without-overpowering\/","og_locale":"en_US","og_type":"article","og_title":"Mastering Influence: Guiding Without Overpowering","og_description":"Learn how effective leadership means guiding, stepping back, and empowering independent thinking in Julie Turpin's latest newsletter.","og_url":"https:\/\/www.bbrown.com\/us\/insight\/mastering-influence-guiding-without-overpowering\/","og_site_name":"Brown & Brown","og_image":[{"width":1280,"height":720,"url":"https:\/\/www.bbrown.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/image-1.png","type":"image\/png"}],"twitter_card":"summary_large_image","twitter_misc":{"Est. reading time":"6 minutes"},"schema":{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org","@graph":[{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https:\/\/www.bbrown.com\/us\/insight\/mastering-influence-guiding-without-overpowering\/","url":"https:\/\/www.bbrown.com\/us\/insight\/mastering-influence-guiding-without-overpowering\/","name":"Mastering Influence: Guiding Without Overpowering - Brown & Brown","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.bbrown.com\/us\/#website"},"primaryImageOfPage":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.bbrown.com\/us\/insight\/mastering-influence-guiding-without-overpowering\/#primaryimage"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.bbrown.com\/us\/insight\/mastering-influence-guiding-without-overpowering\/#primaryimage"},"thumbnailUrl":"https:\/\/www.bbrown.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/image-1.png","datePublished":"2024-10-23T14:00:47+00:00","description":"Learn how effective leadership means guiding, stepping back, and empowering independent thinking in Julie Turpin's latest newsletter.","breadcrumb":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.bbrown.com\/us\/insight\/mastering-influence-guiding-without-overpowering\/#breadcrumb"},"inLanguage":"us","potentialAction":[{"@type":"ReadAction","target":["https:\/\/www.bbrown.com\/us\/insight\/mastering-influence-guiding-without-overpowering\/"]}]},{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"us","@id":"https:\/\/www.bbrown.com\/us\/insight\/mastering-influence-guiding-without-overpowering\/#primaryimage","url":"https:\/\/www.bbrown.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/image-1.png","contentUrl":"https:\/\/www.bbrown.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/image-1.png","width":1280,"height":720},{"@type":"BreadcrumbList","@id":"https:\/\/www.bbrown.com\/us\/insight\/mastering-influence-guiding-without-overpowering\/#breadcrumb","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"Home","item":"https:\/\/www.bbrown.com\/us\/"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"name":"Insights","item":"https:\/\/www.bbrown.com\/us\/news-events\/"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":3,"name":"Mastering Influence: Guiding Without Overpowering"}]},{"@type":"WebSite","@id":"https:\/\/www.bbrown.com\/us\/#website","url":"https:\/\/www.bbrown.com\/us\/","name":"Brown & Brown","description":"","publisher":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.bbrown.com\/us\/#organization"},"potentialAction":[{"@type":"SearchAction","target":{"@type":"EntryPoint","urlTemplate":"https:\/\/www.bbrown.com\/us\/?s={search_term_string}"},"query-input":{"@type":"PropertyValueSpecification","valueRequired":true,"valueName":"search_term_string"}}],"inLanguage":"us"},{"@type":"Organization","@id":"https:\/\/www.bbrown.com\/us\/#organization","name":"Brown & Brown","url":"https:\/\/www.bbrown.com\/us\/","logo":{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"us","@id":"https:\/\/www.bbrown.com\/us\/#\/schema\/logo\/image\/","url":"https:\/\/www.bbrown.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/cropped-BBRetail002-RGBrevs.png","contentUrl":"https:\/\/www.bbrown.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/cropped-BBRetail002-RGBrevs.png","width":1000,"height":136,"caption":"Brown & Brown"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.bbrown.com\/us\/#\/schema\/logo\/image\/"}}]}},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.bbrown.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/insight\/17494","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.bbrown.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/insight"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.bbrown.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/insight"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.bbrown.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/45"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.bbrown.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/insight\/17494\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.bbrown.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/17495"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.bbrown.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=17494"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"insight_category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.bbrown.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/insight_category?post=17494"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}