As a leader, one of the most important concepts to understand is your sphere of influence. Your sphere of influence encompasses the people, resources, and areas over which you have power and can make an impact. Recognizing the scope and limits of your influence is critical for being an effective leader who can drive results while also empowering and motivating others.
What is a Sphere of Influence?
The term "sphere of influence" originated in geopolitics to describe the geographic region over which a nation or political power exerts cultural, economic, military or political influence. However, the concept applies just as readily to leadership in any organization or group. In the context of leadership, your sphere of influence includes:
- The people who report to you directly or indirectly
- The resources (budget, equipment, information) you control
- The decisions you have the authority to make
- The culture and work environment you establish for your team
- The external stakeholders you interact with and can sway
In essence, your sphere of influence is the domain in which you have power and can drive change and results through your actions and leadership. It's important to recognize that influence exists on a spectrum. At the core is your sphere of control - what you can directly manage yourself. Beyond that is your sphere of influence where you can shape outcomes and behaviors even if indirectly. And finally, there is your sphere of concern which includes everything that matters to you but over which you have little direct control.Effective leaders focus their energy on their spheres of control and influence while being mindful of but not consumed by their sphere of concern. They work to expand their influence over time but also recognize the boundaries of their power.
The Three Levels of Influence
Author and speaker John Maxwell describes three levels of influence that leaders can have:
- Modeling - People follow you because of who you are and what you represent. Your character, actions and example influence others.
- Motivating - People follow you because of what you do for them. Your encouragement, empowerment and ability to help them achieve their goals inspires commitment.
- Mentoring - People follow you because of what you have done for them. You have invested in developing them and they are loyal to you as a leader.
As you progress as a leader, your sphere of influence expands from simply being a model others observe to someone who actively motivates and builds up the people you lead. The highest level of influence comes from pouring into others and establishing deep bonds of trust and loyalty.
Strategies to Expand Your Influence
So how can you grow your sphere of influence as a leader? Here are a few key strategies:
- Strengthen relationships. Influence is built on a foundation of trust and rapport. Focus on establishing positive, professional relationships with your team, peers, and stakeholders. Listen to them, support them, and add value.
- Communicate vision and value. Clearly articulate your vision and goals and why they matter. Help people understand how they fit into the bigger picture and the value they bring. Influence comes from connecting people to purpose.
- Empower and equip others. Delegate authority and give people the resources and support they need to succeed. Coach and mentor them to build their skills and confidence. Empowered people are more bought into and influenced by their leader.
- Collaborate cross-functionally. Build relationships and partner with peers in other groups. Seek to understand their needs and find win-win solutions. Influencing laterally expands your overall influence in the organization.
- Be consistent and follow through. Model the behaviors you expect from others. Do what you say you will do. Influence comes from being reliable and leading with integrity.
- Advocate up the chain. Establish credibility with your management by communicating proactively, escalating issues appropriately, and positioning your team for success. Influencing up maximizes the resources and support you can provide your team.
- Expand your expertise. Build expert power by growing your knowledge and skills and being a go-to resource. Share your expertise through teaching, mentoring and thought leadership. Influence flows to those who have valuable wisdom to share.
As you apply these strategies consistently over time, you will see your sphere of influence grow. You will have more impact and be able to drive results more effectively through the commitment and efforts of others.
Respecting the Limits of Your Influence
While seeking to expand your influence is important, it's equally critical to recognize and respect the limits of your sphere. Overstepping your authority or trying to control things outside your purview will damage your leadership credibility. A few common pitfalls to avoid:
- Micromanaging. If you are overly directive and fail to delegate and empower others, you limit your influence. People resent being micromanaged and it saps their motivation and ownership. Focus on the outcomes you need and give people appropriate autonomy to achieve them.
- Overriding stakeholders. If you make decisions that impact other groups without their input and buy-in, you will breed resentment and resistance. Respect your peers' authority in their domains and collaborate with them as partners. Influence requires coalitions and alliances.
- Neglecting your team. If you are so focused on expanding your influence that you fail to invest enough time and energy in leading your direct team, your core foundation will suffer. Never sacrifice your primary leadership responsibilities in pursuit of more influence. Prioritize your team.
- Placing blame. If you throw your team or peers under the bus when things go wrong, you will quickly lose influence. Take ownership for problems even if they are not entirely your fault. Protect your people and focus on solving issues, not placing blame. Influence comes from being a shield, not a finger-pointer.
- Playing politics. If you seek to expand your influence through manipulation, favoritism or alliance-building for personal gain, you will lose in the long run. Trying to control everything through political maneuvering rather than through service-oriented leadership will backfire. Influence is earned through trust and credibility.
Self-aware leaders continually assess if they are investing their energy in the right places and exhibiting the right behaviors to have maximum positive influence. They are intentional about when to step up and when to step back and let others lead.
Influence Flows from Who You Are
At the end of the day, your sphere of influence flows from your character and credibility as a leader. Your actions, attitude and approach will either amplify or limit your influence with others. People are drawn to leaders who:
- Are authentic and lead with integrity
- Invest in and value people
- Communicate openly and transparently
- Make decisions fairly and inclusively
- Develop and empower others
- Take ownership and follow through
- Pursue excellence and continuous improvement
When you model these behaviors consistently, your influence will naturally grow as people trust and commit to following your leadership. Conversely, if you are self-serving, uncaring, uncommunicative, or inconsistent, your influence will shrink as people lose faith.So focus first and foremost on being the best leader you can be. Serve the people you lead. Deliver results with integrity. When you lead in the right way, your sphere of influence will expand and you will have greater positive impact.But always remember, leadership is not about power over people, but rather power with people to achieve together what you cannot accomplish alone. The best leaders use their influence not for personal gain or ego, but to serve, equip and empower others to reach their potential and maximize their contribution to the mission and vision. That is the true purpose and privilege of leadership.