3 ways to boost your influence in government

Influence doesn’t need to be a dark art. Even in the face of rigid hierarchies. It’s time to unpack the steps you might take on the road to becoming a savvy public servant (opens in a new tab).

Influence is power in motion. In the public service, it’s difficult for the right voices to be heard by the right decision-makers. To strengthen your influencing muscle, here’s what a dive into the archive recommends:

Define your strategy
Nail your message
Find your home in the workplace

Let’s look closely at each of these.

**Defining your strategy **involves anticipating and overcoming the obstacles that get in the way of achieving your goals. Sandra Naranjo Bautista, the former Vice-President of Ecuador, explains that “there are three questions civil servants should live by when seeking to influence a minister (opens in a new tab), or any decision-maker really”. They are: What for? Why now? What next? Your answer to each should be concise and leave nothing to chance.

Thinking strategically is a learned skill. Until it becomes second nature, it’s helpful to write down how you’ll achieve your goals. If you want to delve deeper, here’s a boot camp on how to think strategically in government (opens in a new tab).

To nail your message, start by listening (opens in a new tab). Public servants regularly mention the importance of empathy in government (opens in a new tab), and listening is key to developing it. You’ll communicate better if you understand what people want to hear and how they want to hear it.

Once you know how to reach your target audience, you should start honing your message. Besides developing your writing (opens in a new tab) and communication (opens in a new tab) skills, here’s what you need to remember: