Power • Influence • Impact

Master of Influence: Section 5/10

Understanding People & Situations

 

How well do you read people and anticipate their responses?

Influence is about understanding people—what drives them, how they make decisions, and how they interact in different situations. Those who master this can predict outcomes, navigate conversations effectively, and position themselves strategically.

How to Score Yourself

Consider the indicators below. Estimate your score from 0 to 10 based on how consistently you demonstrate these traits.

Positive Indicators (Why You’d Score High)

Someone who scores high in this section is likely to:

✔ Read people well, anticipating their responses and motivations.
✔ Understand the pressures and agendas influencing stakeholders.
✔ Recognise how formal and informal groups function and interact.
✔ Adapt influence strategies based on the personalities and needs of others.

Negative Indicators (Why Your Score Might Be Lower)

Someone who scores lower may:

✘ Often be surprised by how people react to them.
✘ Overlook unspoken tensions or hidden motivations.
✘ Struggle to recognise when someone is disengaged or resistant.
✘ Approach every situation in the same way without adjusting to the context.

 

👉 Remember to keep track of your score before moving on.

 

 

One of the rapidly growing problems today, as disruption lands across every level of an organisation, is building and maintaining real influence in complex settings.

Ethical Strategic Influence

 

The practical process, first developed in 2008, that is currently helping serious professionals in organisations like GSK, Zurich, and the NHS.