Influence is not only about moving an idea forward. It can also be about shaping the conversation so that more voices are heard, more perspectives are tested and more people have the chance to lead.
The Power of Framing
How we frame an idea can change how it is received. Facts and data matter, but often what creates traction is meaning; the ability to connect a message to what people value, need or aspire to.
When leaders frame in this way, their influence tends to ripple further. Not because they push harder, but because they connect more deeply. Framing isn’t about spin. It’s about alignment, joining the dots between what matters to you and what matters to others.
Influence as a Shared Asset
Once earned, influence can also be shared.
One of the most powerful choices a leader can make is to use their influence to open doors for others by amplifying a colleague’s contribution, drawing attention to a perspective that risks being overlooked, or creating pathways that extend beyond their own tenure.
Influence that is paid forward like this becomes more than personal currency. It becomes a collective resource that strengthens trust and builds capability across teams and systems.
Influence as Legacy
When influence shifts from being used for personal gain to being invested in others, it leaves a mark that lasts.
Culture is shaped...
People grow in confidence...
Systems shift toward more inclusion and possibility.
Legacy isn’t built by big, dramatic acts alone. More often, it’s the steady practice of noticing who isn’t being heard, who could be lifted, and how your influence can make the space a little bigger for them.
Why This Matters Now
In a time when leadership is under constant scrutiny and trust in institutions can feel fragile, leaders who use their influence generously stand out. They remind us that leadership is not about taking up more space but about creating more space for others. That kind of legacy doesn’t just last, it multiplies.
Reflective Questions:
- How do you tend to frame your ideas, and how might you connect them more to meaning?
- Who in your network could benefit from your influence right now?
- What legacy of influence would you like to leave in your team or organisation?
With this final piece, we conclude our September series, The Leadership Currency of Influence. Over the past three blogs, we’ve seen how influence takes shape; in the trust we build, the depth of our listening and the ways we pass it forward to create lasting impact.
Photos by Timo Volz, Michael Loftus and Diane Helentjar on Unsplash
