Your closest circle of influence are your friends at work. They are the people who trust you the most, who like you, and who believe in what you are doing – at least they see that you believe in it. Perhaps with the exception of people who report directly to you, you have the greatest influence with your friends at work.
Being a change agent is a difficult job to do alone. Rely on your friends to help you! Looking back at my own friends at work, they played three main roles in the changes I spearheaded:
- Cheerleader – Need encouragement? Friends are good for that.
- Sounding board – Need some quick feedback? Ask a friend what they think.
- Guinea pig – Need someone to be the first to try the new procedure, software, meeting format, etc.? Experiment on your friends!
I’m not suggesting that you take advantage of your friends without reciprocity. As in any relationship, relying on your friends to help you implement change is a two-way street. Always be there when your friends need your expertise and help in return.
When might you rely on friends?
Read more of the 99 Ways to Influence Change.
