If you’re ready to grow your influence, you’re going to have to change your perspective. You’ll need to start seeing yourself as others see you. Then you can identify specific areas you’d like to change and make a plan to do just that.

It’s important not do to this on your own. Individuals who are serious about growth focus on these four steps:

1. Get a coach or mentor;

2. Take a communications workshop;

3. Read books and listen to keynotes about communication; and/or

4. Enroll in training courses, either self-guided or with a group.

Often, a combination of approaches makes the biggest difference. No matter what type of input you get, you’re going to have to do the same thing. You’re going to have to practice.

Have you ever been on a diet or exercise plan? Did you reach the level of health you wanted to achieve? If so, you were probably very consistent with your efforts. If you fell short of your goals, it could be because you ate well and exercised some days, but missed many others. As I am constantly reminding myself, we can’t eat well or workout Monday through Friday and then blow it over the weekend if we really want to be healthy.

Growing your influence works the same way. One day a week won’t do it. Monday to Friday won’t even do it. For consistent, permanent results, we have to be all in, all the time. Monday to Monday™.

Consistency means that no matter whom you communicate with, what medium you communicate through or when you interact with someone, you are always seen as confident, credible and trustworthy.

When your message, actions and presence are consistent, your influence grows.

This week’s blog is an excerpt from my new book, Redefining Influence…Be the Leader You Were Meant to Be, Monday to Monday™, which will be released in 2016.

Drop me a note sharing the steps you took this week to be more consistent in your verbal and non-verbal communication Monday to Monday™. Tag me on my Facebook page.