Expert Practice Forum

A community for developing expertise. And the experts behind it.

Expert Practice Tool Belt

Expanding Your Influence Repertoire

An interactive reflection workbook for subject matter experts

The key idea: Effective influence is not about finding one perfect style. It is about noticing what you naturally do, understanding when it works, and choosing a different approach when the person or situation requires it.

Your reflections stay with you. Nothing is submitted, transmitted or stored by Expert Practice. Use the button at the bottom to prepare your completed workbook as a PDF. Save it before you close this page, or your answers may be lost.

1Replay three real influence attempts

Use as recent situations as possible. Record what you actually did — not what you think you should have done.

WorkedA time I moved someone towards a decision or action.
StalledA time I made some progress, but not enough.
FailedA time my influence did not land.

2What do you naturally reach for?

Look back at your three examples. Select techniques you actually used, then identify the two you use most often — these are likely to be your current defaults.

Most-used defaults selected: 0 of 2.

When I meet resistance, I usually (tick all that apply):

Know when your defaults work — and when they do not.
A technique is useful only when it fits the person AND the situation.

3Compare your repertoire

For each technique, mark whether it is a natural strength, something you underuse, or something you may overuse. The examples explain when each technique is most useful.

Evidence & expertise

Accuracy, technical risk or credibility matters. The person wants proof or confidence in your judgement.

My pattern with this technique
Translate to value

The person is senior, non-technical or balancing competing priorities. They need to see why your idea matters.

My pattern with this technique
Ask & listen

You do not yet understand the resistance, interests or constraints. Useful before trying to persuade harder.

My pattern with this technique
Build trust

Trust is low, the relationship is new, or the issue is sensitive. The person needs confidence in your intent as well as your competence.

My pattern with this technique
Involve & co-create

Implementation depends on others, ownership matters, or several groups must support the change.

My pattern with this technique
Make the ask

A decision, commitment or trade-off is needed. Useful when the issue is clear but movement has stalled.

My pattern with this technique

4When does your usual approach stop working?

Look particularly at the interaction that stalled or failed. Which of these was probably missing?

Choose the technique to fit the person.
Do not abandon your strengths. Add another technique when your default is not enough.

5Use the situation as your cue

Start with what is getting in the way of influence. Review the six situation/technique pairs below. Optionally select the one most relevant to your current situation to include it in your completed PDF.

6Turn one insight into one experiment

Pick one conversation in the next two weeks. Change one thing about how you influence.

With...Who will you try this with?
Instead of my usual...What default technique will you use less of?
I will try...What different technique or behaviour will you use?
I will know it helped if...What observable response or outcome would show progress?
What am I worried about?What might be a negative consequence of this experiment?

7My first step in the next 48 hours

Expert influence grows when you stop asking, “How do I persuade better?” and start asking, “What does this person need from me to move?”

Finished your reflections? Prepare a printable report containing your answers. In the browser’s print dialog, choose Save as PDF.

Your answers remain on your device. If your browser blocks the new window, allow pop-ups for this site and try again. On mobile, use Share or Print to save the PDF.

Expert Practice | Practical development for subject matter experts