Success Advice
3 Ways To Instantly Increase Your Influence By Making Others Feel Important
Do you ever have problems getting others to do what you want? Is it hard for you to move others to action? It seems to be a common issue. It can be frustrating because so much of your ultimate success depends heavily on your ability to influence others. If you want to win in life, you have to be able to influence. It’s unavoidable.
Whether you’re a professional working at an organization, or an entrepreneur who is building your own business, your ability to persuade is essential if you want to become successful.
Here’s the good news: Becoming more influential is not difficult. There are simple things you can do to gain more influence.
The issue isn’t just being popular or more talkative. The issue is how you make others feel. It’s a common saying: “People will forget what you say, but they will never forget how you make them feel.” What would it be like if you were able to make other people want to do what you’re asking?
It doesn’t have to be difficult. You just need to make them feel what they want to feel. So how do they want to feel? They want to feel important. If you’re going to influence others, you must be able to make them feel important.
Here are 3 tips you can use to instantly become more influential by making others feel important:
1. Gratitude
Gratitude is one of the most powerful ways to show people how important they are. It’s been shown to enhance the relationships you can have with those around you.
Think about it. How often do people take time to express true, heartfelt gratitude to others? How did you feel the last time it happened to you? Exactly.
Expressing sincere gratitude is a wonderful way to get people to see that they truly matter. When you make people feel this way, they will attach these positive emotions to you.
And the great thing about this is that it’s so easy! All you need to do is find something that the other person did that benefitted you in some way. It doesn’t have to be something huge. Even the small things will work.
When you identify what the other person has done for you, take some time to let them know. You don’t even have to do it face to face. I usually do it by email because I express myself better by writing.
Regardless of the method you use, make sure you do it. It’ll increase your influence dramatically.
“As we express our gratitude, we must never forget that the highest appreciation is not to utter words, but to live by them.” – John F. Kennedy
2. Get Them To Talk
People love to talk about themselves. If you’re trying to make others feel important, you would do well to remember this fact.
Showing people how important they are means getting them to talk as much as possible. You have to show that you are genuinely interested in what they are saying to you.
The best way to do this is to ask good questions. You need to ask questions that invite a longer answer. There are two types of questions you can ask in a conversation. These are close-ended and open-ended questions.
The difference? A close-ended question can be answered with just a “yes” or a “no” or another type of one-word answer. An open-ended question can’t be answered with just a “yes” or a “no.” The answer has to be longer.
Here’s an example of each:
- Close-ended: Did you like the new Star Wars movie?
- Open-ended: What did you think of the new Star Wars movie?
See the difference? The open-ended question will get the other person to go into more detail about how she feels about the new Star Wars movie.
The more you encourage other people to talk, the more important they will feel. Again, they will attribute this feeling of importance to you.
3. Be Sincere In Your Praise
Praising the other person is a great way to show them that you think they are important. When you take the time to talk about the qualities they possess that you admire, it shows them that you are paying attention to the things they do right.
Similar to gratitude, praise can be a very powerful way to make the other person feel like they matter. We all love it when people notice the effort and hard work that we put forth.
Here’s a caveat: it has to be sincere. Insincere praise is just meaningless flattery. If you’re not being sincere, the other person will pick up on it. This will kill your influence efforts because they will feel like they are being manipulated. Needless to say, nobody wants to feel like they are being played.
When you are looking to give praise, try to pick out qualities that others have noticed. Look for their strengths. That way, when you offer your praise, you can bring up the fact that other people have noticed that they are strong in the area you are praising. This brings a “social proof” element to your praise that will have an even bigger impact.
After all, if you’re telling them something good about themselves that others have noticed, why wouldn’t that make them feel more important? The more effectively you praise others, the more important you will make them feel.
“If you’re sincere, praise is effective. If you’re insincere, it’s manipulative.” – Zig Ziglar
Conclusion
Being influential means having a positive impact on the people you wish to influence. The amount of influence you have is directly tied to the amount of value you bring.
When you make others feel important, you are giving them something that has immense value. That’s why it’s so effective.
Focus on showing others how much they matter to you. Not only will it make you feel more grateful, it will also make people more likely to let you influence them.
How do you make others feel more important? Please leave your thoughts in the comment section below!
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These 11 Habits Will Make You More Productive, Successful, and Confident
Boost your focus, confidence, and results with 11 powerful habits successful people use every day.

Successful people love to help beginners. They have an incredible work ethic and rarely complain. As a result, others naturally look up to them and want to follow in their footsteps.
But here’s the truth: there’s no success without sacrifice. You’ll need to give up comfort, excuses, and sometimes even social approval to accomplish your goals.
Value comes from solving problems, and these 11 powerful tips will help you become more productive, successful, and confident, starting today.
1. Take Short Breaks After Finishing a Task
Psychology shows it’s important to reward positive behaviour.
After completing a big task or finishing a book, take five minutes to walk, stretch, or simply breathe. This quick reset helps your brain recharge and strengthens focus.
Many great writers swear by morning walks, solitude, and reflection can unlock creativity.
But if you refuse to take breaks, don’t be surprised when burnout hits. Your brain needs recovery time just as much as your body does.
2. Schedule Your Most Important Tasks First
Multitasking kills productivity. If you want to get more done, try time blocking, a method where you dedicate set periods for specific tasks.
Productivity expert Caitlin Hughes explains, “Time blocking involves scheduling blocks of time for your tasks throughout the day.”
For example, if you’re a writer:
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Research your topic at night.
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Write your first draft in the morning (don’t worry if it’s rough).
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Edit in the afternoon, great writing comes from rewriting.
You can’t buy more time. Use it intentionally and without regret.
3. Eliminate Distractions from Your Workspace
Focus is the foundation of success.
According to Inc. Magazine, it takes an average of 23 minutes to recover from a distraction. That’s nearly half an hour of lost productivity every time you check your phone.
Put your phone away. Close unnecessary tabs. And yes, limit your Netflix binges.
Meeting deadlines consistently is one of the fastest ways to stand out and earn respect.
4. Take Full Responsibility for Your Life
Entrepreneur Derek Sivers once said, “Everything is my fault.”
This mindset doesn’t mean self-blame; it means self-ownership. Stop pointing fingers, making excuses, or waiting for others to change.
If your habits (like smoking or drinking too much) hold you back, it’s time to make better choices. Your friends can’t live your dreams for you; only you can.
5. Invest an Hour a Day in Learning New Skills
Knowledge compounds over time.
Whether you read books, take online courses, or practise a craft, consistent learning gives you a competitive edge.
I used to struggle with academic writing, but I improved by studying the work of great authors and applying what I learned.
Your past doesn’t define you; your actions do. Every new skill adds another tool to your arsenal and makes you more unstoppable.
6. Develop a Growth Mindset
Psychologist Dr. Carol Dweck introduced the concept of fixed vs. growth mindset.
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A fixed mindset believes success is based on natural talent.
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A growth mindset believes success comes from effort and learning.
Choose the growth mindset. Embrace challenges. See failures as feedback. In today’s fast-moving digital world, adaptability is your biggest advantage.
7. Learn Marketing to Reach People Who Need You
I once believed marketing was manipulative, until I realised it’s about helping people solve problems.
If your work provides genuine value, marketing is how you let others know it exists. Even Apple spends billions on it.
Don’t be ashamed to promote your skills or business. Without visibility, your ideas will never reach the people who need them most.
Creative professionals who understand marketing and sales have an unfair advantage.
8. Ask Your Mentor the Right Questions
Good mentors can fast-track your growth.
While mentorship often costs money, it’s one of the best investments you can make. Great mentors don’t care about titles; they care about your progress.
If you don’t have access to a mentor yet, books are your silent mentors. Read the best in your field, take notes, and apply what resonates.
9. Build Confidence Through Action, Not Affirmations
Author Ryan Holiday once said, “I don’t believe in myself. I have evidence.”
Confidence doesn’t come from shouting affirmations into the mirror; it comes from proof. Doing hard things, keeping promises to yourself, and following through.
When you consistently take action, your brain gathers evidence that you can handle whatever comes next. That’s real confidence, grounded, earned, and unshakable.
10. Focus on Your Strengths
Your strengths reveal where your greatest impact lies.
If people compliment you on something often, it’s a clue. Lean into it.
A former professor once told me I was creative, and that simple comment gave me the confidence to go all in. I studied creativity, applied it daily, and turned it into my career advantage.
Double down on your strengths. That’s how you build momentum and mastery.
11. Identify and Challenge Your Limiting Beliefs
Your beliefs shape your reality.
For years, I believed I couldn’t be a great writer because of my chronic tinnitus and astigmatism, sensory challenges that made concentration difficult. But over time, I realised those struggles made me more disciplined, observant, and empathetic.
Your limitations can become your greatest motivators if you let them.
Avoid shortcuts. Growth takes time, but it’s always worth it.
Final Thoughts
Becoming productive, successful, and confident isn’t about working harder than everyone else. It’s about working smarter, consistently, and intentionally.
You don’t need to overhaul your life overnight. Start small: take a break after your next task, schedule your priorities, or spend one hour learning something new.
Every habit you change compounds into long-term success. Remember, true change comes from practising new behaviours.
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