Six Factors of Influence

I'm a fan of Cheryl Stenstrom, professor at San Jose.  She gave a discussion today through FOPL regarding Advocacy and her research.  I particularly enjoyed her overview of Cialdini's Six Tactics of Influence.  The key is consistent and committed message, but one of the most influential factors is "liking" and at the very least being familiar to key stakeholders.  It brings to mind the adage that it's important to be seen.

The six factors are

1. Authority -- hierarchy or by expertise
2. Consistency (and commitment) -- alignment with personal or organizational values
3. Liking -- popularity, familiarity
4. Reciprocity -- prior exchanges, including favours, advice
5. Scarcity -- the possible lack of availability
6. Social Proof -- what would others do

And here is a link to Mind Tool's post on the Six Principles of Influence

It also brings to mind the theory I studied at Western for my Diploma in Public Admin.  The Multiple Stream (MS) framework explains the policy process that takes place under stressful situations -- conditions of ambiguity.  It proposes a theory of political manipulation. The MS identifies "three conceptually separate and usually parallel streams (problems, policies, and politics) flowing through the system as having their own dynamics and rules. At critical points in time, during open “policy windows,” the streams are merged, typically through the efforts of policy entrepreneurs, and combined into a package that enhances dramatically an issue's chances to receive serious attention, especially when all the three streams are coupled through strategic manipulation by skillful, resourceful, and well-positioned policy entrepreneurs."

It was a wonderful way to spend one's lunch!