The Catalyst

Stop Being the Enforcer. Become the Influencer.

Eugenio Villamizar
Sep 25, 2025By Eugenio Villamizar

Stop Being the Enforcer. Become the Influencer.

According to the World Economic Forum, Leadership and Social Influence is a top 10 skill for 2025. For leaders and HR professionals, it's not just a skill, it's the core of driving change. But how do you move from being heard to being influential?

The challenge often isn't what we say, but how we're perceived. A simple framework can make all the difference. Inspired by our workshops at The Catalyst Consulting, here’s our pragmatic 3C Model to diagnose and build your ability to influence with impact:

🔎 Clarity: Is your message crystal clear? Before communicating, define the What, Why, and How. Ambiguity is the enemy of action.

🔎 Connection: Do you truly understand your stakeholders? This means considering their culture, priorities, and pressures. Influence flows through strong connections.

🔎 Credibility: Are you trusted? This is built through consistent actions, data-backed points, and reliable follow-through.


Putting the 3Cs into Practice:

Imagine you're proposing a flexible work policy.

👎Without the 3Cs: "We should implement flexible work options." (Vague, no connection or credibility)

👍 With the 3Cs:

Clarity: "I propose a 6-month pilot of a 'Flexible Friday' program (What) to boost employee satisfaction and attract top talent (Why). We'll track participation and survey sentiment bi-monthly (How)."

Connection: "John, I know your team is focused on innovation. This policy is a direct way to foster the autonomy that fuels creative thinking."

Credibility: "Data from our last engagement survey shows 65% of employees crave more flexibility. I've also benchmarked three competitors who have seen productivity increases with similar models."


I would suggest as a first step an honest self-assessment. On a scale of 0-10, how would you rate your ability to influence today? Now, ask yourself: which "C" is your strongest lever, and which one needs the most work?


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