Harness internal influencers to drive your aspiration.

Impactful, organisational influencers are critical as change agents to achieve business aspirations.

The term “Influencer” has been hijacked over recent years and has come to represent “look at me” types with narcissistic tendencies. This is unfortunate, because for me, an influencer in a business context can be an impactful, committed leader whose capabilities and passion can drive organisations to achieve great things.

In order to have the most fertile conditions for positive influencers to thrive in your organisation you need three things:

1. A clear and compelling vision I call an aspiration;
2. A program of upskilling and building capability where people are confident, equipped and in control; and
3. Great belief in your organisation and where it is headed.

Once these elements are in place and understood it is like catching a train. You are clear on the destination, you have trust it is on the right path and it is not reliant upon you to drive it.

Australian history is littered with extraordinary examples of vision, capability and belief driving amazing outcomes. People like John Flynn who founded the Royal Flying Doctor Service in 1928, or Howard Florey who won the Nobel prize for Physiology and Medicine in 1945 after making penicillin safe for medical use or Fred Hollows whose work gave sight to thousands of people around the world and his extraordinary legacy continues today.

A compelling strategic plan is highlighted by audacious goals. To achieve these goals, it is critical the organisation invest in building the capability to drive this ambition. At the intersection of ambition and capability lives the influencer. That impactful leader that can positively influence, never losing site of the big picture and moving forward with belief and conviction.

How are you building capability in your people? Does it align with the organisational ambition? Are your goals audacious enough?