Some people seem like they were born to excel. They’re gifted physically, intellectually or artistically, and it appears as if they just float to the top.
有些人似乎天生就很出色。他們在身體方面、智力上或是藝術方面天賦異稟，好像不費吹灰之力就可以拔得頭籌。

But don’t be fooled. However gifted someone may be, he or she still had to develop those talents to achieve a lofty professional position. And that’s good news for the rest of us. Each one of us has our own skills and talents, and we too can develop them and propel ourselves into positions of influence.
不要再騙自己了。不管多么天資聰穎，一個人總要有某些實實在在的技能，才可以有高人一等的職業地位。這對我們來說可是好消息。我們每個人都有自己的技能和才華，我們也可以通過對它們的提升，讓自己變得更有影響力。

Here are seven ways to enhance those talents:
以下是提高這些技能的7種方法：

1. Develop your critical decision-making skills.
發展批判性的決策能力。

Decision-making is a top leadership competency because it pops up everywhere, from the simple choice of where to hold a staff meeting to the strategic options of where to spend marketing dollars. These decisions impact the people in the next cubicle, but they may also affect a subsidiary halfway across the globe or an entire country.
我們在許多方面都需要做出決策：小到開會地點，大到銷售費用的戰略性分配，因此對領導者來說，最重要的就是決策能力。這些決定或許只是影響到你隔壁的人，又或許它會影響地球另一邊的公司，甚至整個國家。

Decisiveness is not a trait we’re born with -- it’s a skill that can be learned. To master it, analyze your process of critical decision-making to spot weak links in your reasoning and to recognize unconscious biases for or against something or someone. While we can’t control outcomes, we can shape the process that sets them in motion.
我們并非生來就能果斷決策，但我們可以學著這樣做。去分析你進行批判性決策的過程，看到你推理中的薄弱環節，并且認識到你潛意識里對某物或某人的偏見，這樣你就會漸漸知道該怎么做。雖然結果并不在我們的掌控之中，但我們可以操作過程從而影響結果。

2. Learn to make a solid argument.
學會有力地辯論。

You may never address the United Nations Security Council or testify before Congress, but everyone should be able to put together a coherent argument. That skill is critically and frequently useful -- in high-stakes conversations, in presentations, in question-and-answer sessions and in other discussions with decision-makers or anyone else who represents a certain viewpoint or asks you to explain yours.
或許你從來沒有在聯合國安理會上發過言，也沒有在國會里做過證，但是每個人都應該學會流暢清晰地表達。這種能力很重要。在進行高風險的對話的時候，在自我展示的時候，在問答環節，在與其他決策者討論的時候，還有在與觀點不同者解釋你的觀點的時候……諸多場合你都有可能用到它。

To argue means to give reasons. It means defending and promoting your choices against the contrary arguments of equally adept influencers. Take what you’ve learned in school and build on that base with private instruction and directed reading on the relevant subject. You’ll find that your ability to think critically and analyze others’ arguments will dramatically increase your influence on their choices.
辯論意味著給出理由。辯論時，面對與你觀點對立、難分高下的對手，你要攻守兼備。在運用學校知識的基礎之上，形成自己的思路，直接引用相關的論點。這樣的話，你會發現這種批判性思考和分析他人論點的能力在很大程度上會增強你的影響力。

3. Become a storyteller.
善于講故事

Storytelling has been a premier tool in influencing people across cultures and eras. Influencers tell stories for strategic purposes. From motivating people to act, to teaching, to reducing resistance and changing minds, a well-told narrative is a formidable force, often far more powerful than the mere recitation of complex financial or technical facts.
要想影響那些不同文化或不同時代的人，講故事是首要的辦法。為了達到戰略目的，有影響力的人常常會講故事。一段精彩的故事敘述可以激勵人們行動，傳授人們知識，消解敵人的抵抗，改變他人的心意——它往往具有不可戰勝的力量，比單調復雜的金融和技術詳述強大得多。

Numbers and figures are important, but when it comes to showing their relationship to any issue, large or small, a strategic narrative wrapped around the digits will deliver the message better and more memorably than anything else.
數字和圖表確實重要，但是要想展現它們與或大或小的問題的聯系的時候，來一段巧妙的故事敘述無疑會讓信息傳遞事半功倍。

After you master the data, ask yourself: Is there a way to put a human face on my message? Are there real-life examples that will help me make my point in a way others can relate to?
在你熟悉這些數據之后，試著問問自己：如何才使這些信息更為人性化？有沒有現實例子可以讓我的觀點與之聯系起來的？

4. Hone your speaking skills.
培養說話的藝術

When many of us think of influential people, we often think of those who were great speakers, such as John F. Kennedy, Ronald Reagan and Steve Jobs, as well as contemporaries such as Michelle Obama and Sheryl Sandberg. While many influencers operate effectively behind the scenes, those with the ability, the drive and the courage to speak persuasively have an additional source of powerful leverage.
每當談及有影響力的人，我們常常想到那些演說家，像約翰?F?肯尼迪（John F. Kennedy），羅納德?里根（Ronald Reagan）和史蒂芬?喬布斯（Steve Jobs），還有當代的米歇爾?奧巴馬（Michelle Obama）和雪莉?桑德伯格（Sheryl Sandberg）。誠然，很多有影響力的人在幕后都很精干，但是那些有能力、有激情、有勇氣去演講的人都擁有一種額外的影響力。

Like decision-making skills, speaking skills are in high demand. Every day in myriad organizations, corporations and schools, vast numbers of presenters strive to capture the imaginations of workers and executives and students in order to drive an agenda forward. Yet many people fear speaking in public, giving in to a panic that closes a heavy door on a fast track to success and influence.
跟決策能力一樣，有影響力的人也需要說話的藝術。每天，在無數個組織、公司和學校里，為了將一個工作提上日程，都有無數的發言者千方百計想要用言語征服工人、高管和學生們。然而，很多人不敢在公眾面前說話。殊不知，這樣的膽怯就是阻截了通向成功和強大影響力的捷徑。

Do not shy away from speaking opportunities. Hone your message and delivery skill by repeatedly putting yourself in front of an audience, gather feedback, make adjustments, rinse and repeat. Summon the courage to speak and accept discomfort as a natural part of learning and growing. Start in smaller settings first, and then build up from there. There’s no limit to where your influence can grow with this skill.
有發言機會的時候，盡管站出來吧。不斷地將自己置身于公眾面前，觀察他們的反應并據此作出調整，反復打磨自己，這樣才能鍛煉你的口才。勇敢地開口，那些緊張不安的感覺只是你學習成長中的必經之路。千里之行，始于足下。盡管說出你的想法，你的潛能將無可限量。

5. Have a basic understanding of current events.
對時事有所了解

You can’t have an intelligent conversation with your peers and clients if you’re stumped when faced with everyday topics such as the election, taxes, budget deficits, interest rates, markets, unemployment and the meaning of all these things to the average citizen. You don’t need to be an expert on these topics, but you do need a basic understanding of them.
試想你跟同僚或者客戶談到時事，例如選舉、稅收、財政赤字、銀行利率、市場、失業等等平民話題，這時候你卻支支吾吾、面色尷尬，那你們還怎么高興的交談？對于這些信息，你不用有什么深刻見地，但如果一無所知，那就不應該了。

Influence is about shaping opinion, and embarrassing holes in everyday knowledge -- the kind that force you to awkwardly steer conversations into friendlier waters -- can significantly dampen your 360-degree influencing efforts. To fill these gaps, set aside a particular time each day to learn what’s in the news. Make it a daily habit. It will require no more than 20 minutes.
所謂影響力就是形成你自己的觀點。如果你在某些常識上有漏洞，或者當與別人談到某件事，你被迫尷尬地主動轉移話題，那在別人眼里，你的影響力可就大打折扣了。為了彌補這些不足，你應該養成良好的習慣，學著每天擠出一點時間來關注一下時事——不用很長，20分鐘足矣。

Test your knowledge and wit by engaging friends and colleagues in the salient topics of the day and see how far you get and whether you’re able to make a well-informed point that you can back up. It’s a low-risk strategy that allows you to gather feedback in real time with the opportunity to fill gaps just as quickly, with hundreds of news sources just a few clicks away on your smartphone.
你可以通過跟同事朋友聊些日常話題來檢驗自己了解的多少，以及自己能否提出深刻的觀點并說得有理有據。這種方式很安全，你可以在現實中得到反饋，你有機會用智能手機搜集到幾百條新聞，以盡快彌補自己的知識缺陷。

Build your knowledge incrementally and notice how others will start coming to you for information, which is, after all, a major source of influence.
逐步增加你的知識儲備，然后別人自然而然會靠近你以獲取信息，這就是影響力的主要來源。

6. Think like a leader.
像領導者一樣思考

Influence is most obvious when it happens at the front of the pack. While influence can arise from any position, it is also from a position of leadership that it can make the most impact.
當一個人成為領軍人物，他的影響力是最明顯的。不過任何職位的人都可以產生影響力，而對領導者來說，他的力量影響的范圍最大。

The most successful companies develop their high-potential leaders from within. If you’re lucky enough to work for a leadership-development powerhouse such as GE, IBM or P&G, you’ve got it made, because everyone else is going to woo you to come on board with them and practice what you’ve learned.
最成功的公司往往從內部篩選及培養高潛能的領導者。如果你有幸在一個領導者的搖籃工作，比如美國通用電氣公司（GE）、美國國際商用機器公司（IBM）或者寶潔公司（P&G），那你就勝利在望了。因為那里的每個人都希望與你成為合作伙伴，你會有很多鍛煉自我的機會。

If you don’t work for one of those great firms, if your company simply doesn’t have the resources or if you’re just out of school, volunteer to head up something such as a community project, a fundraiser or anything where you can test your mettle for making difficult decisions, setting strategy and motivating people toward a goal while keeping an eye on available resources.
如果你沒能在這些大公司工作，或者你的公司并沒有這些資源，又或者你的學歷不夠，那就自愿地去領導一件事情，比如一個社區項目或者一個資金籌集活動——只要這件事情可以讓你知道在有限的資源前提下，自己在決策難題、運用謀略和調動他人積極性方面究竟有多大能耐，那都是可以的。

Volunteering is an excellent start for leadership training, as is mentoring others and helping them achieve their goals. The number-one leadership rule to keep in mind: help others become successful! Your altruistic efforts are sure to influence decision-makers around you to pencil you in for a bigger job when the opportunity comes along.
參與志愿活動是鍛煉領導能力的良好開端，因為這是一個指導、幫助別人達到目標的過程。要記住這個首要的領導法則：讓別人變得更成功！無私地幫助別人吧，等到時機成熟，決策者一定會升你的職。

7. Understand communication technology.
了解信息技術

It’s the 21st century, and even 5 year olds know about Twitter, Facebook and the latest multimedia platforms. Social media have secured a big foothold and they’re here to stay. If you don’t have an ongoing online dialogue with your customers or if you need a 19 year old to show you the ropes every time you log on to your website’s forum, you’re behind.
現在是21世紀，即使是5歲小孩子也聽過推特、臉書等等新潮的多媒體。社交媒體已經站穩了腳跟，并且將會繼續發展。如果你現在還沒有與客戶進行網上對話，或者你還需要一個19歲的青年來教你如何點開論壇的注冊鏈接，那你就落伍啦。

Business is online, and customers and recruiters are looking for you to be present. Google yourself right now, and if the search produces 25 other people with your name -- but not you -- it’s time to dive in headfirst. For the majority of people with whom you’ll come in contact, your reputation and perceived influence start with what they can find about you on the Internet.
如今的商業都在網上進行。客戶和聘用方都希望能在網上聯系到你。試著搜索一下自己名字。如果搜索結果顯示有25個人與你同名，但其中沒有你，那你可得卯足勁努力了。因為對你的大多數同伴來說，他們對你的名聲和個人影響力第一判斷來自于網上搜索的結果。

Each individual, even those gifted people who seem to float easily to corporate heights, need to work on the skills that enable and enhance influence. If you develop these competencies, you will watch your influence soar.
那些有天賦的人似乎輕而易舉就可以成功。但是包括他們在內的所有人都要努力學習這些技能，這樣才可以提高個人影響力。如果你具備了這些技能，那你的影響力會迅速飆升了。

英文來源：entrepreneur.com

譯者：chenger25

審校&編輯：yaning