You Cannot Not Influence

Influence is ubiguitous and subtle. It is cyclical in that we are constantly being influenced as we influence others. In fact subtle influence is often more effective than overt attempts to change other people because it reaches people who don't have their defences up.

Young people are influenced by both the content delivered in classes and the manner of the teacher. Relational influence is coupled with content expertise for pedagogical reception at two levels. Tom Morris noted, "Socrates had a student named Plato, Plato had a student named Aristotle, and Aristotle had a student named Alexander the Great." That validates the principle that influence extends from generation to generation.

Imitation is a form of indirect influence. We see the actions of a performer on TV or in the movies and emulate the behavior. B. F. Skinner said, "give me a child and I'll shape him into anything.' Imitating behavior is the way we're wired to learn. We see, we do.

Since we're influenced constantly and indirectly, it's important to remind ourselves from time-to-time that what we put before our eyes matters. "People exercise an unconsicous selection in being influenced," quipped T. S. Eliot.

Influence enters our minds through our five senses. The dominant two are seeing and hearing. The Bible talks about having ears to hear. Henry David Thoreau noted, "we perceive and are affected by changes too subtle to be described."

In reflecting on the power of nonchalant influence, J. S. Knox wrote, "you cannot antagonize and influence at the same time." Relax. Influence occurs automatically. If forced it is frequently resisted. You're being influenced constantly and other forces are influencing you. You cannot not influence.