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Influence Without Authority

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“Influence Without Authority” Action Plan

Complete the grid below.
Key Business Problem(s) In this course, you’ve examined ways that people can exercise and build their influence within an organization. Now you will identify a key business or organizational problem you face that’s relevant to the strategies presented here. Describe the challenge (or opportunity) you face for which you’d like a greater ability to influence others.
*It was my first month as the new safety coordinator and as I was going through everyone’s safety file I noticed that there was a lot of training records missing. I had to get everyone’s file up to date. This was a problem because everyone was friends with the last guy that was in this position and they were upset that they company fired him and hired me to take his place.
Strategies Identify the specific strategies from this course that are directly relevant to your problem or opportunity. It may be strategies related to establishing greater credibility or increasing potency. Note those strategies here in your action plan.

*I used the Rationality Strategy. I knew that in order for everyone to make the commitment of coming to a training session I was going to have to build credibility with them and let them know that I am looking out for what would be best for them. I will use logical thinking by explaining to them that this class is not just for work they will be able to use what they learned in their own personal life as well.

Steps Identify the steps you will take to put those strategies into action.
1. List each step you will take to put those strategies into action.
2. For each, describe what you will do personally.
3. Also describe what others on your team will need to do.

Be as specific as you can in outlining the actions that you and others must take.

*At first I sent out an email saying that I would like all of us to get together and have a safety training class after a couple days I didn’t get any responses. So then I decided that I needed to go and talk to everyone on a personal level. I went and re-introduced my self and told them about the real me not just about the work me. I also told them my plans to help keep them safe on and off the job and about my plans on keeping the work environment safe. I took the time to ask them questions about who they are: family/hobbies/spare time/ect…. I also asked them if there was anything safety related they would like to see happen within the company. I felt like by talking to everyone I was able to establish credibility with them and gain a little trust with them. I didn’t want to push the training class so hard so I waited about a week or so and I sent out another email about wanting to put together a training class but this time I asked when would be best for them. And this time almost everyone responded except for a few. Once I had a good date I was able to put the class meeting on everyone’s calendar and it had a spot where they are able to say yes or no if they will be going. I was excited when I seen that everyone except those few said that they will be there. The few that never responded I decided to go and talk to them personally and find out why they do not want to participate. They informed me that they were really close to the last guy and they felt like he should still be here. They also said that they haven’t had to do any training in over two years so why do they need to now. I explained to them that I understand that they are upset about their friend but there was nothing that I or they could do about that now. I also let them know that although it has been a long time it is still something that the company prepared and it does need to be done and not only will it help them at work it is things that they can even practice at home.

Timeline Identify a timeline for implementation.

1. What will you do immediately?
2. What will you plan to do differently in the next month?

*The first thing I will do is get with the supervisor and make sure that he is fine with having a one day training class with everyone. Then I will make find out what day works best for everyone and then get it all scheduled. The day of the class I will make sure to make it as enjoyable as I can. I will have plenty of coffee and other drinks as well as breakfast and other snack foods. I find that people pay attention more when they are not hungry. I will also have lunch brought in.
Within the next month I plan on getting to know everyone better and letting them know that they can come to me with their thoughts and concerns. I will also start planning a couple different training classes just as re-caps each month that they will be able to attend.
I want to build my credibility up with them and show that this is a long term commitment not just for me but also for them.

Measurement/Results How are you going to measure your results or demonstrate that your efforts have had a positive impact? Outline your measurement strategies here. In the context of influencing without authority, it may be difficult to quantify results. One measurement could be something as simple as: “I will consider it a success if my process improvement suggestion is implemented by the team.”

*I will be able to measure my results by seeing how everyone’s attitude towards me changes since I was the outsider. Another way I will be able to measure it will be when I set up the other classes by how many people willing commit to attending them.

To submit this assignment, please refer to the instructions in the course.

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