Page 164 - The Power to Change Anything

Harness Peer Pressure 153

friends, you’re far more likely to follow through than if you sim-
ply make your commitment to yourself.
Better still, team up with someone who is attempting to
make the same changes you are. Exercise together. Diet
together. Work on your explosive tempers together. Encourage
each other, keep each other in the loop, and hold each other
accountable. We crave the acceptance and admiration of those
we admire. So co-opt the power of social support for your own
benefit.

Become an Opinion Leader Yourself

If you aspire to become an effective influencer, you should also
aspire to become an opinion leader within your own work and
family circle. Parents, in particular, do well when they remain
a respected voice with their children throughout the develop-
mental years, and not just until their kids turn 13. Despite the
stereotype of all teenagers eventually dismissing their parents’
opinions, there are many parents who remain an important
source of influence, even during their children’s most trying
years. This doesn’t mean that their offspring eagerly embrace
every parental opinion or admonition, but that their parents’
opinions still carry weight, even when they go against the
wishes of their children.
Here’s what it takes to become and remain an opinion
leader. People, including children, pay attention to individuals
who possess two important qualities. First, these people are
viewed as knowledgeable about the issue at hand. They tend to
stay connected to their area of expertise, often through a variety
of sources. Second, opinion leaders are viewed as trustworthy.
They don’t merely know a great deal about a certain area, but
they also have other people’s best interest in mind. This means
that they aren’t seen as using their knowledge to manipulate or
harm, but rather to help. If others believe that you’re missing
either of these two qualities, you won’t be very influential.