Have you ever had an idea that you just had to share with someone? Have you tried to influence them to follow you? I'm sure you have. 

What does it mean to influence someone?

The capacity to have an effect on the character, development, or behavior of someone or something, or the effect itself. 

Being a teacher, it is quite easy to influence children. They mostly hang on your lips and believe every word you say. We have to choose our words wisely because what we say and what we do continuously affect them. Have you ever though how your actions or just what you say can affect someone else?

Often teachers fall into a pattern of dictatorship and want to force others to follow their example.  There is a big difference in being a dictator and to have influence. You never want to force someone to follow your example just because you think you are right.  Not everyone feels the same about certain things, and your view might not always be the correct view. 

For me, being a teacher means to influence others positively, and to let them strive towards making their own decisions.  My job is to make them aware, and then it is their choice to make the right decision at the right time.  

At home I have this neat trick where I plant a little seed about something that I want to change, and then my husband starts to think about this too. Once I get him to think about it, I leave it for a few days and then bring it up in some random discussion and then he feels as if he came up with the decision all on his own. But... just as easy as it is to influence people positively it is also easy  to influence people negatively.  Let us look at a few examples of people that influenced the world to what it is today.    

                             

Martin Luther King.  He was an American baptist minister, and he played an enormous role in the advancement of civil rights using non-violent civil disobedience based on Christian beliefs. 

                                

Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela was the first black South African president from 1994 to 1999. President Mandela was able to influence people with his soft nature. He was a philanthropist and a revolutionary politician.  

                        

Adolf Hitler was a German politician who was the leader of the Nazi Party from 1933 to 1945, and he had the amazing power of speech. He convinced people to do the unthinkable. His followers loved him, and listened to every word he said. He was able to brainwash people in such a way that they killed millions of people because they  thought they were doing good things. 

All three of these people above had an astounding affect on the world.    

How can you influence people in a positive way?

1. You need to build relationships 

To build a good relationship you need to have a positive attitude.  You need to be interested in what others like or don't like. Remember not everyone likes the same things.  It is important to have conversations with others, to get to know them and the way they think.  

2.  Smile and shine your little light

If you let your little bright light shine, people will notice this and would possibly want to do the same.  Be a happy person.  People are influenced by smiling. Put a smile on your face and get out there!  Even if you have to grind your teeth because you don't feel happy, keep those smiles coming.   

3. Have good manners 

A simple THANK YOU can change the world to someone.  Show people that you respect them and they will respect you back.  You have to lead by example. If you want others to follow you, then you need to be a good example to them.  Be a good example to your children and your family.  You would want to be remembered one day when you die.  

I read an obituary the other day of a man that died and he had the worst obituary ever. His children wrote: ".......................will not be remembered for what he has done. He will only be remembered for what he has NOT done." 

What a sad way to describe a father, a brother or even a Grandfather.

4.  Always treat people the way that you want to be treated

If people feel offended by your approach, they will start to attack.  Do you know why? 

5.  Do not disregard the opinions of others

Always listen to others.  Even if you do not agree, give them an opportunity to finish talking.  Even if someone  says something that sounds ridiculous, do not shoot them down, and respond to what they said in a proper manner.