Influence is one of the most critical tools in leadership, communication, and personal development. When used ethically and intentionally, influence can transform teams, guide behavior, resolve conflicts, and create lasting positive change. Unlike manipulation, which seeks to deceive, positive influence is built on trust, clarity, and shared outcomes. In this article, we’ll explore three real-world examples of influencing for positive results. Each case illustrates different approaches, from emotional intelligence and storytelling to negotiation and role modeling. These examples show how the right influence strategy can lead to win-win outcomes—whether in business, education, or community leadership.
Example 1: Influencing Through Emotional Intelligence in Team Leadership
Situation
Sarah, a project manager at a fast-growing software company, was leading a diverse team of designers, developers, and marketers. Midway through a product launch, tensions grew due to missed deadlines and unclear priorities. Team members were blaming one another, morale dropped, and productivity was declining.
Challenge
Sarah needed to realign her team and reduce the interpersonal conflicts. Traditional authoritative leadership wasn’t working, and simply pushing deadlines or micromanaging only made matters worse.
Strategy: Influence Through Empathy and Trust
Instead of enforcing more rules or escalating issues to HR, Sarah used her emotional intelligence to influence the team constructively.
- Active Listening and Empathy: She invited each team member to one-on-one meetings and genuinely listened to their frustrations. This approach helped her uncover hidden stressors—such as burnout and lack of clarity in their roles.
- Role Modeling Calm Behavior: In group meetings, Sarah modeled calm, composed communication even when problems arose. This tone helped de-escalate conflict and encouraged more measured discussions among team members.
- Reframing the Narrative: Rather than dwelling on failures, Sarah reframed the situation as a shared opportunity for improvement. She praised efforts, acknowledged challenges, and rallied the team around a common goal: delivering a product they could all be proud of.
- Empowering With Clarity: She restructured responsibilities so that each person had clear ownership. Expectations were set collaboratively, which led to increased accountability and motivation.
Results
By influencing through emotional intelligence rather than authority, Sarah re-established team harmony. The team met their revised launch date, and post-project surveys showed improved satisfaction and trust among members. Her influence turned a fragmented group into a united and high-performing team.
Example 2: Influencing Through Storytelling in Education
Situation
Michael, a high school teacher, was assigned to teach history to a class of disengaged students. Many of them viewed history as irrelevant and boring. Traditional lectures failed to capture their attention, and test scores were falling below district averages.
Challenge
Michael had to find a way to influence his students’ attitudes toward learning, especially about a subject they found uninteresting. He couldn’t enforce interest—but he could influence it.
Strategy: Influence Through Narrative and Relevance
Michael decided to use storytelling as his primary tool for influencing student engagement.
- Turning Lessons into Stories: Instead of reading from the textbook, he delivered lessons as dramatic narratives. The American Revolution wasn’t just dates and facts—it was the story of defiant underdogs challenging a mighty empire.
- Humanizing History: He focused on the personal lives of historical figures. For example, he shared Thomas Jefferson’s internal conflicts about freedom and slavery, or Harriet Tubman’s fear and bravery. This made the content emotionally resonant.
- Connecting to Their World: Michael drew parallels between historical events and modern issues—civil rights movements, youth activism, political polarization. Students were asked to reflect on how they might act in similar circumstances.
- Encouraging Dialogue: He encouraged debates, role-plays, and student-led projects. This gave them ownership of their learning journey.
Results
Student engagement skyrocketed. Attendance improved, test scores rose by 20% within a semester, and several students expressed a newfound interest in political science and history. One even submitted an essay for a national competition on civil liberties. By influencing through storytelling, Michael inspired intellectual curiosity and critical thinking—far beyond the textbook.
Example 3: Influencing Through Negotiation and Shared Value in Business
Situation
Lena, a procurement manager at a mid-sized manufacturing company, was responsible for negotiating a contract with a supplier. The company was under pressure to cut costs due to rising raw material prices. The supplier, however, had also been hit by inflation and was unwilling to lower prices.
Challenge
It looked like a deadlock. A price reduction could jeopardize the supplier’s ability to deliver quality, while walking away would delay production. Lena needed to influence the supplier’s cooperation without pushing them into an unsustainable position.
Strategy: Influence Through Win-Win Negotiation
Lena employed a strategy of interest-based negotiation—focusing on mutual benefits rather than positional bargaining.
- Preparation with Empathy: Before the meeting, she studied the supplier’s business model and margins. She understood their challenges, which allowed her to approach the conversation with empathy rather than confrontation.
- Open Dialogue: Lena opened the meeting by expressing appreciation for the supplier’s work and emphasized the long-term nature of the partnership. Instead of demanding discounts, she asked, “How can we structure our agreement so it works for both of us?”
- Exploring Creative Options: Rather than pressing for a straight price cut, Lena suggested alternate forms of value: bulk order discounts, extended contracts for pricing stability, and co-investment in inventory planning. The supplier offered longer payment terms in return.
- Building Shared Vision: They worked together on a joint forecast that improved predictability. This allowed both parties to reduce risk and minimize waste.
Results
The contract was renewed on more favorable terms without undercutting the supplier. The partnership became more collaborative, leading to better service and fewer delays. Lena’s approach influenced a sustainable business solution—based not on power, but on mutual respect and strategic insight.
Example 4: Influencing Through Vision in Nonprofit Fundraising
Situation
Jared, the director of a small nonprofit dedicated to youth mental health, was struggling to raise funds. Despite a clear mission, donors were disengaged, and past fundraising efforts had plateaued. The nonprofit needed significant capital to expand its school outreach programs.
Challenge
Donors were experiencing fatigue—too many causes, too little personal connection. Jared couldn’t rely on data and statistics alone; he needed to influence donor emotion and create a renewed sense of purpose.
Strategy: Influence Through Vision and Story
Jared changed his approach from simply requesting donations to telling a compelling vision of the future—and inviting people to help create it.
- Framing the Mission as a Shared Journey He stopped describing the nonprofit as “we” and started saying “you.” For example, “You’re helping students get their first therapy session ever,” instead of “We provide mental health support.”
- Personal Stories Instead of Statistics At fundraising events, Jared introduced a high school student who had been helped by the nonprofit’s work. Hearing directly from the teen about overcoming depression moved the room more than any bar graph could.
- Visual Campaigning He introduced short documentary-style videos showcasing school counselors, student testimonials, and behind-the-scenes work. These videos were shared online and shown at local events to build emotional resonance.
- Building a Legacy Concept Jared created a campaign called “The Next 1,000 Kids,” asking donors to imagine the lives they could influence with their gift. This future-focused narrative gave people a sense of lasting contribution.
Results
Donations more than doubled in a single quarter. Several local businesses signed on as recurring donors. Volunteers increased by 60%, and the nonprofit successfully launched its outreach into five new school districts. Jared’s influence transformed community perception—not through guilt or pressure, but by inspiring belief in a collective mission.
Example 5: Influencing Through Peer Coaching in the Workplace
Situation
A seasoned software engineer named Priya was promoted to a senior position. While technically skilled, she had to guide junior colleagues and influence cross-functional teams—not just code. She noticed one colleague, Lucas, struggling with new responsibilities but refusing help.
Challenge
Lucas was defensive about feedback and hesitant to ask questions, fearing it would make him look incompetent. Standard mentorship wasn’t working. Priya had to influence without appearing superior or condescending.
Strategy: Influence Through Peer Coaching and Curiosity
Rather than instructing Lucas, Priya shifted her approach to empower and coach.
- Asking Questions Instead of Giving Orders She asked questions like, “How would you approach this differently next time?” or “What do you think is the trickiest part of this problem?” This allowed Lucas to reflect, rather than feel judged.
- Sharing Her Own Mistakes Priya openly shared stories of her own learning curves, normalizing the idea of failure as a growth tool. Lucas started feeling more psychologically safe to engage.
- Providing Small Wins She involved Lucas in a side project where he could quickly implement a solution and see results. The project wasn’t high-stakes, which helped build confidence.
- Celebrating Improvements Publicly In team retrospectives, Priya praised Lucas for his contributions in front of peers—not just to reward him, but to reshape the group’s perception and foster a culture of learning.
Results
Lucas became noticeably more engaged. He began asking for feedback, contributing during planning sessions, and even mentoring a new hire himself six months later. Priya’s influence didn’t stem from authority—but from peer-based trust, humility, and empowerment.
Example 6: Influencing Through Community Building in Customer Service
Situation
A customer success manager named Ellie worked for a SaaS platform with a high churn rate. Many users were signing up for free trials but abandoning the platform before converting. The product was solid—but customers weren’t sticking around long enough to see its full value.
Challenge
Ellie needed to influence customer behavior toward engagement and loyalty. Direct sales tactics hadn’t worked. Her challenge was to build connection and trust without sounding transactional.
Strategy: Influence Through Community and Belonging
Ellie decided to create a sense of belonging around the product—turning passive users into active community members.
- Launching a User Community Forum She worked with the marketing team to create an online space where users could share tips, ask questions, and post success stories. This transformed users from isolated customers into members of a peer-driven ecosystem.
- Highlighting Champions Ellie identified highly engaged users and gave them badges, shoutouts, and early access to features. These users became informal ambassadors who influenced others through authentic recommendations.
- Personalized Onboarding Rather than generic emails, Ellie introduced a live weekly onboarding webinar with Q&A, hosted by herself or a customer success teammate. This created direct rapport and answered common blockers.
- Celebrating User Wins On social media and inside the community, Ellie spotlighted customers achieving goals using the product—whether saving time, increasing revenue, or solving complex problems.
Results
Customer retention improved by 35% within two quarters. The community forum became a self-sustaining source of peer support, and NPS scores rose significantly. Ellie’s influence wasn’t pushy—it was built on creating space, connection, and value for users.
Example 7: Influencing Through Positive Reinforcement in Parenting
Situation
Emma, a mother of two young boys, noticed that her 6-year-old, Leo, had become increasingly resistant to doing homework. Daily conflicts turned into meltdowns, and Emma began to dread evenings. Punishments and stricter routines only made things worse.
Challenge
Emma needed to influence Leo’s behavior in a way that would make him feel capable, motivated, and supported—without creating more stress or power struggles.
Strategy: Influence Through Positive Reinforcement and Choice
Emma shifted her parenting style from command-driven to behaviorally strategic.
- Creating Autonomy Within Structure Instead of saying “Do your homework now,” she gave Leo a choice between doing it before dinner or after—letting him feel some control.
- Using Praise for Effort, Not Outcomes She praised specific efforts (“I noticed you concentrated for five minutes straight!”) rather than grades. This helped Leo associate learning with progress, not pressure.
- Gamifying the Routine Emma introduced a sticker reward chart: five homework completions meant a small reward like choosing the next family movie night. Leo responded to this visual progress.
- Co-Creation of Environment Leo helped pick out his “homework space” setup—his favorite pencils, a timer, and a small desk lamp. Ownership over the environment translated into greater cooperation.
Results
Within two weeks, tantrums disappeared. Leo began initiating homework himself on some days, and his teacher reported higher classroom participation. Emma’s influence worked not through dominance, but through empathy, structure, and the power of behavioral reinforcement.
Example 8: Influencing During Crisis Through Calm and Clarity
Situation
Raj, a regional operations manager at a logistics company, faced a sudden crisis: a major system crash halted warehouse processing during the peak of the holiday season. Employees were panicked, customers were angry, and upper management demanded answers.
Challenge
Raj needed to stabilize operations, reduce panic, and inspire trust in a highly pressurized, uncertain moment. His response would set the tone for hundreds of employees.
Strategy: Influence Through Calm Communication and Transparent Leadership
Raj employed a leadership style focused on clarity, calmness, and visibility.
- Immediate Communication Within 30 minutes, he gathered team leaders for a short virtual meeting—not with blame, but with facts: what happened, what was being done, and what to expect.
- Public Ownership of Responsibility Raj took visible accountability in front of employees: “We didn’t anticipate this failure, but I promise we’re taking every step to fix it.” This openness prevented rumors and resentment.
- Real-Time Progress Updates He implemented 3-hour update intervals to keep everyone informed—sharing both fixes and setbacks. This transparency reduced fear and speculation.
- Humanizing the Situation Raj made rounds on the floor, thanking warehouse staff personally, listening to their concerns, and providing stress relief options like extended breaks and warm meals.
Results
The systems were restored in under 48 hours. Turnover was avoided, morale stayed intact, and the regional hub even exceeded on-time delivery expectations by the end of the quarter. Raj’s ability to influence during chaos—through calm and honest leadership—turned a potential disaster into a loyalty-building event.
Example 9: Influencing Through Grassroots Action and Community Mobilization
Situation
Maria, a university student in a small town, noticed unsafe pedestrian crossings near a local school. After a child was nearly hit by a speeding car, she decided something had to change—but city officials weren’t responding to complaints.
Challenge
Maria had no title, no political power, and no budget. But she had a sense of urgency and the belief that others in the community would care too—if she could influence them effectively.
Strategy: Influence Through Community Storytelling and Collective Action
Maria organized a local movement using grassroots influence tactics.
- Telling a Personal, Emotional Story She wrote a Facebook post sharing the near-accident and why it mattered. It got over 300 shares in a week and caught the attention of local parents and teachers.
- Petitions and Partnership She created a simple online petition asking for a new crosswalk and flashing lights. She partnered with the PTA and gathered over 1,200 signatures in ten days.
- Visual Demonstrations Maria organized a “Slow Down Walk,” where kids and parents walked together across the dangerous street with banners. Local media picked up the story.
- Presenting Solutions, Not Just Complaints When she met city officials, she came with stats, testimonials, and low-cost design suggestions pulled from other cities’ success stories.
Results
Within six weeks, the city installed signage and committed to infrastructure upgrades funded through a safety grant. Maria’s influence sparked a small civic movement, empowering others to stay involved in school-zone safety issues. What started with a single Facebook post became a local policy win.
Key Takeaways: Lessons From the Three Examples
Though the settings differ—corporate leadership, education, and business negotiation—these examples share common traits that illustrate the essence of positive influence:
1. Empathy Builds Trust
Whether it’s leading a team or negotiating a deal, putting yourself in the other person’s shoes builds rapport and opens pathways for honest communication. Influence starts when people feel seen and understood.
2. Communication is the Core Tool
Influencing isn’t about control—it’s about communication. Emotional storytelling, calm presence, open-ended questions, and active listening are all tools that shape perception and inspire change.
3. Creating Shared Goals
People are more likely to follow your lead when they see how your goals align with their values. All three influencers in our examples succeeded by co-creating outcomes rather than dictating them.
4. Integrity Over Authority
Influence that relies on coercion or manipulation often backfires. The most effective influence is ethical, consistent, and rooted in integrity. Influence without trust becomes pressure; influence with trust becomes leadership.
Conclusion
Influencing for positive results is not about having power over others—it’s about inspiring cooperation, trust, and meaningful change. Whether you’re a teacher, leader, negotiator, or even a parent, your ability to influence can uplift those around you and solve complex challenges with grace. As shown in the three examples above, influence isn’t a one-size-fits-all skill. It’s adaptive, human-centered, and built through relationships. The more you practice positive influence—with empathy, clarity, and shared purpose—the more your impact grows. So the next time you face a conflict, a disengaged team, or a negotiation challenge, remember: influence is not just a tactic—it’s a responsibility. Use it wisely, and you’ll leave a lasting, positive legacy.
