Communications—influencing skills

This chapter explains why influencing skills are essential for an effective leader. It explains that exercising influence helps to sell ideas and gain cooperation and commitment, while also encouraging participation and support for workplace and policing interventions. Attitudes and personality play a vital role in how people can try to influence others. The chapter offers some tips to help sergeant and inspector leaders, and other police leaders attend public meetings, such as considering relevant criticisms. Since gaining influence involves a complex bundle of planning and interpersonal skills, practice and experience, a leader’s ability to be influential should be judged by results, critical self-analysis and feedback from others.