We’ve all heard the saying about not being able to change other people, but really, it’s not true. The fact is, we do change other people all the time. And they change us.
There are different types of change. One way that others change us is through overt attempts at manipulation. Such as when a politician wields economic influence to change the actions of their counterparts in other nations or when they use their oratory skills to influence the thoughts and actions of their constituents.
Sometimes the change is more subtle like peer pressure among kids at school.
In some cases the change may even be unintended such as when you dress a certain way to fit in with some group. You may just think, “Hey, it’s just the fashion.” But in reality, other people are subtly, possibly even unintentionally, using their influence to change your actions all the time.
When you think about it, people are actually very pliable. I don’t mean that in a bad way. It’s part of what makes us human. We like to belong to groups–communities of other like-minded people. We even depend on them to help us form our opinions and influence our actions. We like to be led.
In truth, pretty much everything you do or say exerts some sort of influence on the other people around you. And in a very real way, the person you are today is not the person you would be if you had different friends or associates.
This week, at delputnam.com I’m exploring the ways we influence or are influenced by others.
Is it possible for what one other person says to profoundly change your life? Tomorrow, I’ll give you some personal examples of how this has happened to me. I’d love to hear your stories too.
What about ways that we use this ability to influence people to make our living? How do we use influence in business?
And what are some of the ways you can use your own influence to change those around you? Is it possible to actually change your own destiny and the destiny of those around you?
What do you think?
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photo credit, Gregory Bastien
