As the UK stands at a crossroads where important decisions need to be made about emerging technologies, renewable energies, healthcare and growing the economy, it is the most influential people, not the rich, the controlling and the politicians, who are the true leaders shaping the future.
Among these exceptional individuals are those who are recognised in the Top 100 Influential People – a prestigious award that highlights those shaping industries and inspiring change.
Influential people tend to be high-achievers at the top of their game and be blessed with an amazing array of skills, knowledge, emotional intelligence and superpowers. Remarkably, they aren’t surprised by new trends because they have already seen them coming. They don’t follow what other people think; they are innovators and independent thinkers who believe in their own powers. They are usually experts in their field and have an innate ability to persuade and motivate others.
The ultimate top 10 tips on how to be influential
When it comes to being influential, some are born to the role while others have to pick up the magical abilities as they go along.
To help you become a fully-fledged influential leader, follow these top tips and proven ways to be influential to gain influence in 2025 and boost your reputation and presence in your market.
Build a personal brand and embrace networking:
- First, think about what you stand for and what you want to be known for. Consistent messaging is the key to success.
- If you don’t know your industry inside out, do your homework and meet the key leaders.
- Know your audience and how to communicate with them. Think about all the different communities you operate in, such as customers, suppliers, staff, and nearby residents, and develop targeted messages aimed at each community.
- Use a public relations agency to support your brand-building activities.
- Take up every opportunity to speak at conferences, seminars, etc to get your message across. Use social media to keep in touch with people you meet at business events.
- Write articles for trade magazines and post blogs and webinars online.
- Expand your networking activities and define your goals.
- Enter personal achievements awards to gain credibility and enhance your reputation.
- Maintain contact with key players and keep in touch with them on a regular basis.
- Grow your online presence on social media and share your advice and opinions.
An example of a modern-day leader is Mr Ranjit Baxi, who is a global expert, entrepreneur and campaigner in the recycling industry. He recently became a 2025 winner of a Top 100 Influential People award for his far-reaching influence in his industry over 45 years. He founded Global Recycling Day in 2017, led many professional bodies and he travels all over the world at his own expense to galvanise support for his campaigns against climate change.
Another distinguished influential leader, who is also included in the Top 100 Influential People 2025 list is Jeremy Stern, who founded PromoVeritas. His company raised the standards of prize promotions and helped major companies to ensure their competitions are legal, fair and secure. By setting the standards for prize competitions, he has had a major impact in his industry, enabling consumers to place more trust in prize promotions. He even finds time to engage in his local community and undertake charity work.
Are you a top influential leader?
Not sure about where you are on the influential leader scale then take the test below to find out?
- Are you a well-known character in your industry?
- Do you receive endless invitations to speak at industry events? If not, ask yourself, why not?
- Are you an innovator and ahead of the game when it comes to emerging technology including artificial intelligence?
- Do you actively cultivate contacts from across your industry and share your ideas on social media?
- Have you done a 360-degree survey among your key contacts to find out what they think of you.
- Have you appointed a public relations agency to develop your brand?
- Have many people told you, you don’t listen? If they have, think about ways to boost your listening skills.
- If you haven’t raised profile and enhanced your reputation by entering personal business awards add them to your brand building strategy.
There are many other leading questions you can ask yourself – why not share yours in the comment section?
In conclusion
If you answered negatively to a number of the questions, you need to take urgent action to reposition yourself as an influential leader.
Follow these top ten tips and you’ll find they are proven ways to be influential but keeping up the momentum can be tough going so develop a long-term strategy to ensure that you retain influential position.
Being a high-profile influential person is a continuous learning process and to stay ahead you must broaden your horizons, be ethical – otherwise people can lose trust, read everything you can about being influential and always ask for feedback.
