Question

Give an example of someone you've tried to influence lately. Was it an upward, downward, or lateral influence attempt? Which tactic did you use or are you using? From what you know and understand about power, sources of power, politics, and influence tactics do you think you may change your tactic in any way?

300 words

Answer 1

Lately, I have influenced one of my peers using the lateral influence who is actually very pessimistic in nature. Being my friend, I think I have the responsibility to correct her behavior of seeing life from an angle of negativity. She hates to study, hates to be cheerful but instead wants to enjoy the time of loneliness.

I have used many tactics at various stages of influencing her. Firstly, I have done the rational persuasion tactics by which I made her understand the real face of life that, life becomes happy when we perceive it from a cheerful viewpoint. Then by using the inspirational appeal of influencing tactics, I have made her see life from an angle of beauty and optimism filled with confidence and happiness by making her read many biographies of great people who changed their life zestfully after believing in themselves.

Regarding the power and other influence tactics concept, I believe that every person has a power within them, some may identify it and start to polish it which makes their life brim with success while others may not realize the real power and instead stay inactive throughout their life believing that life is a painful story with them being a useless element in it.

In my friends case, by utilizing the charismatic power within myself,i was able to make her believe in my viewpoints and advice about life. The main problem I felt in her is the lack of emotional and mental support to hold her hands through tough phases of life which made her feel that life is not fair with her.And yes, ofcourse i believe that the tactics i have used may change over time.If she has got the same problem again, i may use other tactics according to the future situation of hers.Hence the role of power within one self may vary by using various tactics diffrently at different ppoint of life.

Hence the answer.