Influence

Facts About the Influence of Media on Young People

2011-06-21T01:17:00.000-07:00

The media has long been tagged as one of the things that influence people the most. It is because when we talk of media it covers the radio, television, and print. There is also electronic media, which includes the use of computers and other latest gadgets. With all these technology available readily available to everybody, it cannot be denied that whatever people see and hear will have en effect on them. The influence of media on young people is another point of discussion.

The youth represents majority of the population. Teenagers and young adults are part of this group. They represent the significant percentage of people who are self conscious of their image; hence they are the target audience of producers and advertisers. The influence can be good or bad, depending on how the individuals respond to the shows, movies, commercials, and other media products.

In terms of body image, the media bombards the young girls’ minds with images of skinny models. This makes them feel that if they are a few pounds heavier than these images on the magazine then they are unacceptable to the society. As time passes, it has been observed that the girls who are becoming weight conscious gets younger and younger—for instance, about 80% of nine-year-olds are on diets and that the number of eating disorder cases has been rising.

Through the media, boys are getting obsessed with their body because they always see well-built men in magazines and television shows. Staying fit has never been an issue but there is an alarming increase in the number of people who adhere to obsessive weight training and use anabolic steroids and dietary supplements that promise these boys bugger muscles and more stamina for lifting.

With regard to sex, three out of four teenagers say that the television shows and movies make it seem normal for children their age to engage in sexual relations. The young teens regard the entertainment media as the number one source of information about sexuality and sexual health. Being open about sex and how they talk to their girlfriends or boyfriends about it is largely because of what they see and hear.

In terms of violence, one study shows that children are learning aggressive attitudes and behaviors because of watching shows and movies that depict such behavior. They develop a fear of being victimized by violence. What most of the programs they see and hear send the false notion that in every conflict there has to be a winner and a loser, thus making them believe that violence is a successful means of resolving conflicts.

Media violence can lead to aggressive behavior in children and this is supported by a research that states that when a child hits the age of 18, he must have seen about 200,000 acts of violence on television alone. Young children become desensitized to the real world violence. They cannot easily tell the difference between real life and fantasy that the violent images they see on television and in the movies may seem real to them.

Parents can reduce the negative influence of media on young people by limiting and monitoring the programs the children watch. They should also teach the children the value of inner beauty, the value of self worth, and alternatives to violence.

Does Music Influence Learning in Children?

2011-06-20T02:08:00.000-07:00

In general, how does music influence learning? Experts have researched on this and have provided enriching information. One observes that music can hone creativity. Another believes that through the study of music one can examine higher creative and learning functions. Another has it that musical intelligence is one of the seven basic intelligences.

Music has the ability to help people learn more effectively. It can create a considerable contribution to all of education because these people benefit by enhancing key developmental goals such as self-esteem and creativity. Research has it that music can influence learning in core subjects as well as contribute to the attainment of core goals in learning.

What is interesting to know more about is the effect of music on the learning of children. It is noticeable that small children have that fascination towards music which can be manifested when they hum, have the urge to move to music, become joyful when hearing mother’s lullaby, or become excited when their favorite song is being played. If children are encouraged to learn a musical instrument, their rational, emotional, and motor modalities are being stimulated.

With regard to speech development, the fetus is capable of listening to the voices of the parents. It can already hear and even recognize music. Prenatal psychology reports that music has a remarkable influence on the development of the fetus. After birth, babies imitate the sounds they hear that usually by the age of five, their vocabulary has widened.

In each developmental phase such as in preschool learning, a child develops certain abilities especially well such as movement, vision, music, speech, or emotions. To develop musically, these children need the proper stimulation at the appropriate time.

It has been researched that classical music strengthens parts of the brain that are necessary for logical thinking. When one listens to music and makes music, there are changes that are observed in certain parts of the brain. Playing a musical instrument is a complex activity because it involves the use of the intellect as one tries to comprehend, the motor skills as one performs, the emotions as one initiates, as well as the senses.

Research has it that children who play violin or guitar at a young age demonstrate notable changes in brain activity. Active music making stimulates motor skills. Furthermore, music making promotes social competence. It provides motor, intellectual and emotional behavioral skills that encourage general sociability.

Parents of children who are learning to play musical instruments have noticed that their children have learned to concentrate better and longer. They also observed that they have improved their memory skills and that they have learned to approach something new in a systematic way. These parents have recognized that making music helped in developing the positive character traits of their children. They have become more disciplined through daily practice.

So, does music influence learning in children? Certainly. Through music and active participation, children can achieve better balance between school and sports. It can also be an outlet for the children’s anxiety and aggression so that they can better channel and express their emotions. Being influenced by music, children learn to develop an understanding and respect for art as well as appreciation for beauty.

They get to be inquisitive and expand their knowledge in the different types of music.

How Does the Media Influence the Way People Behave?

2011-06-19T07:01:00.000-07:00

The influence of media is growing stronger and stronger as time passes. Because of this, the competition among producers and advertisers gets tougher as they try to come up with new ways to catch people’s attention through their newspapers, magazines, movies, shows, and commercials. If you have noticed, the speed at which news travels around the world has become faster with the development and advancement in technology. Everything is evolving depending on the demand of people. Media indeed can influence people in different ways but the pressing question is this: how does the media influence the way people behave?

Watching movies and programs on the television as we relax takes us away into this different realm—that is, there are parts in our being that feels we are the ones in the movie and sometimes we even feel what they are feeling as we get caught in the emotional excitement. The effect of media does not stop when the movie or program ends. And this lingering effect might just be the cause of behavioral changes in people.

With action films, children tend to emulate the movie hero, engaging him to violent acts thinking that it is acceptable because his hero became successful in the end. With cartoon programs, not everything is good-natured. There are those that show subtle acts of violence and deceitful acts against others (some even more vulgar). In return, children tend to copy the characters and think that deceiving other people is a way to confront their problems. They learn to transfer these ill behaviors to friends.

There are some television shows and movies that attempt to create an atmosphere to change the view of people towards social issues such as racial discrimination. These shows provoke criticism and tend to mislead the picture of reality. In the minds of other people, the effect can be for the better, but some unfortunately for the worse.

There had been instances in the past that teens commit suicide imitating her favorite actress. There was also a case where somebody set a subway ticket booth on fire just like the way he saw it in his favorite film. There are rape cases, too, that had been imitated from different movies. These are just some examples of the disturbing influence of media on people’s behavior.

An explanation to these sinful acts is that these people could not distinguish fantasy from reality. They get caught up in the realm of what they had been watching and the images and scenes get embedded in their minds. What makes these people pull these images and scenes from the recesses of their minds and turn them into reality is a psychological case.

So to answer the pressing question earlier, does the media influence the way people behave? Yes, it does. If we analyze fully and look at things in a bigger picture, the media is largely responsible for inculcating the minds of people with false notions and morbid imageries. They feed the minds of innocent young people with violence and other disturbing issues. They inform people on how to do acts that are deemed controversial to the society.

These lead to misbehavior against other people, which can create a vicious cycle among individuals as they attempt to do the same or even worse things to others.

Teachers Should Know How to Influence a Child in School

2011-06-18T15:18:00.000-07:00

When parents drop of their kids in school, it is the responsibility of the teacher to make sure they are well taken cared of until it is time for them to go home. To do this, they influence the child by teaching the subject based on a lesson plan and also make sure that they behave in the classroom.

Teaching the child about history or math is easy but making sure they behave is more challenging which is why teachers have to be taught certain techniques.

If the student is misbehaving in class, the best way is to call their attention. When you are reprimanding the child, make sure that this is done privately to avoid embarrassing the child in class. You can tell the child to stay after class and then talking to them about it in the hopes that they will not do it again.

Sometimes, saying it once to a child is not effective so you have to resort to other means to get the point to their heads. You can try ignoring them because reprimanding in some cases encourages the child to misbehave even more.

You can also try what is known as seclusion where you tell the child to sit in a corner for a specified period of time. The waiting time allows the student to listen while the class is still ongoing and at the same time gives them time to think over what they did.

When such techniques are not effective and the child becomes more problematic, it is time to exercise more extreme measures.

The teacher can schedule a parent teacher conference and explain to the parents that their son or daughter has been misbehaving or not doing well in school. If the problem is academic, extra hours can be given so the teacher can make the student catch up with the rest of the class. If the teacher has not time, a peer can be called in to handle it.

If the issue is misbehavior like getting into fights or vandalism, the school must inform the parents of what is happening and if nothing has changed, this is when the school should enforce disciplinary measures.

The first is the detention and this can last from 30 to 60 minutes. Most schools do this after school and in some cases, on Saturdays. The school must put in writing why the student was given detention so they understand what happened.

When detention doesn’t work, then perhaps suspension will be best for the school and the student. This may last for a day or longer depending on the offense.

If suspension does not work, then the school has no choice but to expel the child from the school. Although the school is free of this individual, the parent has to deal with this problem by finding another school or trying out homebound instruction.

There are limits to what teachers can do to influence a child who is in their custody. Before resorting to extreme measures, the teacher must find out what is wrong and then do their best to solve the problem. If they can do this on their own, get the child’s parents on board so they can monitored even when they are not in school.

How Influence Affects People

2011-06-17T19:03:00.000-07:00

People are always affected by anything that surrounds them, be it for good or otherwise and this is how influence affects people.

We may not be aware about how social influence plays a major role in shaping our frame of mind or help us create our opinions, but definitely it helps us – as rational beings – to establish logical trains of thought based on these varied stimuli that influences us.

And this is particularly true when other people’s ideas affect ours and sometimes helps us understand the concept of one thing or another.

There are basically four common types of social influence for which society has learned to adapt and consider a part of daily life and culture.

First or the common social influences affecting people is reputation.

It has become one of the key measuring tools by which people gauge influence over others.

This is especially true among experts of their respective fields, through which they are most commonly recognized and identified with.

Their sphere of influence rests on their integrity and credibility in the field for which they are related with or are considered experts, their opinion of matters related to their respective fields of specialty are what draws the trust of those looking up to them.

This form of influence is measured by the person’s experience, educational attainment and resources, among others.

Next is charisma, this is where physical attraction, beauty, aura and strength of character is strongly associated with.

Influence is power and the fact that people can wield their influence among others manifests their strength of personality and character as well.

Self –confidence and persuasion are two of the most common traits found among people with strong charisma.

Another type of influence is peer pressure, this is where a person’s sense of belongingness and need for acceptance strongly comes into play.

However, this is the type of influence that is commonly abused and misused for negative and malicious purposes, especially by those wanting to wield their influence over unsuspecting or naпve victims, only to satisfy their selfish and dangerous intentions.

But on a positive note, peer pressure can also play very important roles in intervening or reshaping ideas that may initially sound good but without carefully thinking things over can cause a lot of damage.

Peer pressure also helps in building up character and helping others gain more confidence and self –esteem.

Lastly, persuasion is another type of influence that people use to leverage their influence on others.

Persuasion, just like peer pressure, can be responsible for many things, common ones of which are those used to gain public or mass sympathy, opinions, political beliefs and social ideas, among others.

It is important to understand that having influence is a great responsibility that one should highly consider and take good caution with, especially since it is responsible for making use of one’s advantage over others, be it in intellect, charm, power and strength of character.

If influence can be wielded to do good, it can also be used to do bad or cause harm.

So it is important to greatly consider the responsibility that one carries with his or her power of influence and at the same time, assume a sense of accountability for whatever result his or her influence can have on other people – this is how influence affects people.

How to Influence Your Classmates on a Group Project

2011-06-17T02:23:00.000-07:00

Don’t you just hate it when your teacher divides the class into different groups and tells everyone to work on something? Well this happens and there are times that you don’t get to choose who you work with and that makes the job more difficult. When faced with this dilemma, you should know how to influence them.

If it just so happens that you were appointed as group leader, then so much the better because you will be able to set the direction of how things will go.

But before you accept the position, make it clear that everyone’s grade is riding on this assignment and that if someone in the group does not do their share, then that person should not expect to get the same grade as the rest.

After brainstorming, it is now time for you to set a timeline and delegate certain tasks. As group leader, don’t forget to follow up on how each person is doing and if they need help, be sure that they can approach you and ask questions so they don’t feel lost.

Make sure when you are checking up on everyone that you say this politely because in the end, no one is higher or lower in the group. Outside the classroom, you are all students and you surely don’t want anything bad to happen to you as well should someone else be in charge.

If things are not going as planned, find out what is wrong and remind everyone that you have to finish the assignment before the deadline. If you have to stay up late and work after school, go ahead and do it because again, your grade depends on it.

Should you need to take a break, tell everyone to stop what they are doing and have some fun for awhile so everyone will be able to focus on what needs to be done.

After all the hard work, don’t forget to thank everyone in the group. Tell them that no matter what grade is given, you appreciate their effort.

Unlike in the work place where the project manager gets the credit, your teacher will probably praise the entire group. Still, if someone in the group gave more than what they were supposed to contribute, give credit where it is due because without them, you would have never finished the task that was given.

When you are tasked to do something in school, influence your classmates by making sure everyone is up to the task, delegating some of the work, checking up on them and thanking everyone for their contribution.

The task that was given to you is simply an exercise so that when you graduate from college, you will be able to do same thing with people you have to get along with at work. So make the most of it and do your best given the time and resources.

This is a good opportunity to show to your teacher and your classmates the correct way to influence people when such an exercise is given. Don’t be afraid to make some mistakes and take chances. If things don’t work, keep it cool and get help from the rest of the group because their insight could be valuable since this is a group effort.

Does the Internet Influence Bullying

2011-06-16T09:31:00.000-07:00

There is a new threat online and this is something that affects your children. The damage to them may not be physical since this happens in cyberspace and if you think this can’t happen, think again. Although the internet was meant to provide us with information and keep people in touch, does it also influence cyber bullying?

The answer is no. It just so happens that there are some sick people online who have nothing to do but decide to inflict harm to other people.

But what is cyber bullying? This is when people decide to hurt someone based on their gender or physical attributes. Since the person being victimized has nowhere to go, there have been some reports that suggest that there is a link between this type of behavior and teenage suicides.

The biggest challenge in decreasing the incidents of cyber bullying is the fact that it is hard to regulate. This is because a lot of parents don’t check up on their kids when they decide to go online thinking that nothing could happen to them when they are sitting in front of the computer but then they are mistaken.

If you don’t want this to happen to your kids, it is best to do something about it.

One thing you can do is monitor what sites and who do your kids talk to when they are online.

It will also be a good idea to put the computer in the center of the house so you can walk by and see what they are doing on the web.

If you are open with your children, talk to them about this issue and make them tell you if anyone is harassing them online or through their mobile phone. This is because cyber bullying also occurs in the form of SMS so no one is safe even if the computer is turned off.

Should your children start receiving them, tell them to ignore it because if they react to it, more people will get in and gang up on them.

It will probably be a good idea to change their accounts and mobile number so whoever is responsible won’t be able to get in touch with them again.

But if the bullying continues, get in touch with the authorities and print out that emails and other hurtful messages. Cyber bullying is now considered a crime in many states and with the evidence, those who are responsible can be prosecuted.

The internet was never meant to hurt anyone. If you ask those who made it, none of them will say that this was in their when they created it. Who is to blame? Well the people who decided to use it in that fashion. If somebody does it and others do the same, then those individuals are influenced by the one who actually started it.

With that, you can’t blame those who created this technology. The one you should go after are those lurking in cyber space.

As parents, it is up to us to teach our children how to protect themselves in school and online. It is also our duty to make sure that they don’t bully others as well because it is wrong and no one should have to go through it. So back to the question, does the internet influence bullying? The answer is definitely no.

The Media Influences Our Children

2011-06-15T12:49:00.000-07:00

The media influences how our children think and act. Sometimes, they even follow what is seen in a show without thinking that this could be harmful if done to another person. This is why movies are given certain ratings and parents should monitor what their children watch at home.

One of the best ways to counteract the negativity of media is to watch with your children what is shown on television. If they have a question, it will be better if you gave them the correct answer of what a certain words means and if this is appropriate for them to use or not.

If there is something that they don’t understand, you should be the one to explain to them what is happening rather than having them interpret how such events happened.

Such things should not only happen for shows on television but also the commercials that are shown in between them. As we know, there are certain shows that promote a variety of products that claim to make a certain task easier even when there are already other gadgets that can do the same job at home.

When this happens, you should just explain to your child that what you are currently using can do the same thing so there is no point in buying a replacement.

There are also commercials that appeal to children especially if what is featured is a toy. After seeing the commercial, your child will probably want it since that is what is popular right now. When faced with this situation, ask them if they really want it or is this just a phase. Tomorrow, next week or even a month later a new toy will come out so such things come and go so they don’t lose anything when they don’t buy it.

If you are not around that often to watch these shows and commercials with your child, set a time that will allow them to watch television and make sure you stick with it. That way, they don’t sit on the couch after finishing their homework or during the weekends.

Aside from television, the biggest threat to children these days is the Internet. There have been incidents where some children have been bullied online by being a member to certain sites and clicking on certain links which lead them to porn sites.

To counter such threats, you should monitor what sites they visit and block them from visiting certain sites. You should also allot a certain time that they are allowed to go online or put the computer in the living room instead of the bedroom so you can see what sites they are visiting. If you are not home, use a password so they can only use it when you are around.

Taking the appropriate steps like talking to your child, screening certain shows and sites are the most effective ways available to regulate the amount of influence that media has over your child.

If your children doesn’t curse or exhibit some inappropriate behavior, you can say you did a good job in raising them but don’t forget that there are other factors which make them behave badly such as the influence that may also come from their friends. When this happens, you should screen who they interact with.

The Profound Influence of Television on Society

2011-06-14T18:53:00.000-07:00

In our world today, it seems that we are being controlled by the advancements in technology. It is not obvious to many but it dictates how we live our lives. We live in a culture where we wake up every day with the morning news people delivering information in a fast-paced format attempting to get the viewers energized for the day. They fill us in on the weather and the traffic scenario. At the end of the day, we lounge in front of the television to unwind after an exhausting day at work. Because of this observation, the influence of television on society becomes more apparent.

Because watching television seems to be an integral part of every day, many people think that it is impossible to think of life without it. It is just like thinking of life without media; it is unimaginable. Media provides information, entertainment, and comfort. It also is reflective of the standard of living of many people that they start investing in digital cables to increase their exposure to the hundreds of new channels that come with it. Additionally, a lot of people invest in high-speed Internet connections to keep themselves up-to-date with the happenings on the virtual world. They use the World Wide Web to learn more about their favorite shows, certain interesting personalities, and movies.

Everything we experience shapes us and molds us to how we are now. And everything that we see on television influences the way we think to some extent. It is not only the shows and movies that influence our persona. It is also the commercials that greatly influence our choices and decisions. Commercials get an ample amount of airtime, enough to make us stop and take notice.

Advertisements are made based on the target audience, and a lot of these commercials are geared to lure in teenagers and young adults because they are the more self-conscious age groups. They are always mindful of how they look in terms of their size, their clothes, and what they carry in their pockets. This generation still has what is called disposable income, as they are still excited to purchase the latest gadgets and new products. Even as they seek individuality at this age, they also yearn to keep up with their peers by having the latest products. They tend to buy on impulse, which works to the advantage of these advertisers.

What we possess, how we are, and how we are perceived dictate our social status. This is how the society works nowadays. And this is what advertisers are exploiting. They need avenues to penetrate the viewers’ psyche in hopes of them buying their products. They create certain images in peoples’ minds that by obtaining such things they will be better people. While some claims are true, others give false hopes to the consumers. We just have to use our intelligence to identify which is which.

The influence of television on society is getting stronger and stronger as technology advances. These shows, movies, and commercials adapt to the society. So while they are being molded according to what the viewers want, the more they will have great influence on how people think.

The evolution of our physical self, our behavior, our thinking is a result of the advancements in the media world.

How to Influence Behavior in School

2011-06-13T21:28:00.000-07:00

In school, it is inevitable that there is sometimes conflict between the teacher and the student or among the students. Instead of sitting idly by and doing nothing, the teacher must learn how to influence this type of rude behavior because it is something that must never be tolerated in the classroom.

If the student is failing in one subject and the students are making fun of this person, the best way to make an influence on the student is to spend more time with that student. This is known as hurdle helping where additional hours of work are done after school and this can be done with the teacher or with a fellow student.

The teacher is not the only one responsible for the child’s performance in school. Parents have a share in the load too so everyone has to agree on what should be done to improve the situation. This technique is known as a contract where all parties will sign an agreement stating that they will do their best to improve.

Included in the agreement is the student’s expected behavior in school and at home. So that the teacher and the parents know how things are progressing, a time line is set to see if such goals are achieved.

Should the student’s behavior be caused by other factors, the student can try something called antiseptic bouncing. Here, the student is instructed to do an errand so they can get out of the classroom and cool off. It can be something as simple as giving a note to another teacher or returning a book to the library so that person is able to calm down before returning back to class.

Perhaps the simplest way to stop a student from exhibiting bad behavior is to call their attention. Parents do this too by simply saying no but in school, students have to know what they should stop doing it. This is the beauty of direct appeal and the best way to make it stick in the student’s head is to thank them for not doing it again.

Similar to direct appeal is the “I” Messages. Here, the teacher is able to write down what he or she feels about the student’s misbehavior. This technique consists of three parts namely when the student misbehaves, how the teacher feels and why.

Another influence technique is Make a Date which is simply talking to the student after class. This will allow the teacher and the student to talk in private and try to solve the problem together.

Most kids watch television and what they see in the media has a strong influence. Teachers can also influence their behavior through a technique called modeling. This can be done showing a video, making other students role play, drawing or cutting out some pictures. For this to work, the teacher must know the person whom the student looks up to because this is the only way to get the student to change their behavior.

Teachers can influence how students behave in school. They can do it on their own and also with the help of the child’s parents and peers. If one technique doesn’t work, try another because if the teacher gives up, they have not done their jobs in preparing the student for the future.

The Internet Has a Big Influence on Us

2011-06-13T02:45:00.000-07:00

There is no doubt that the internet has a big influence on us. This is because we can use this medium to shop for items online, conduct research and stay in touch with people even if they are half way around the world.

Before the internet was available, we had to go out when we wanted to shop for things, go to the library to do some research or get on the phone to get in touch with someone. During that time, whatever we wanted was not available on our fingertips which is something our parents never had when they were young.

But has this made us stay in the house more often than going out? The answer is no because some of the items you find online are much cheaper when you go to the store. People still travel and go places even if they used the internet to make a reservation or book a flight.

This means that people are aware of the limits of what the Internet can do. After all, it is much better to see the sights for real and experience what it is like to be there rather than just looking at a picture or trying to see it using a virtual reality realm.

If people are not able to travel, the internet enables users to see each other live so they chat as long as they have a microphone and camera. The best part is that it is free thanks to such programs offered by Skype or Yahoo Messenger so you don’t have to pay a cent compared to the old method of talking to someone on the phone.

But of the different things that the internet provides us today, people will remember this medium for its quick ability to spread information.

When an event happens anywhere in the world, a blogger or a news service will post this online so you can see it from different points of view and you can even react to it.

You can write a blog or post a fictional story and if people like it, you will get more hits than you expected and your fans will encourage you to write more.

For those doing research, you will get up to date information about the topic much faster than the writer publishing the book and buying it from the store.

To keep the internet keep up with the times, the people who make the hardware that make up our computers also have to do their share to keep up with the times. Each year, companies like Cisco and Siemens come up with faster processors while other companies make smaller and smaller laptops and notebooks so we can have access to this medium regardless of where we are in the world.

We owe a lot to the internet which is why we can’t deny the fact that it has an influence on who we are. Without it, we won’t be able to trade with other countries since there are no business to business portals, auctions can’t be done and you will have to visit the local store even if a similar item can be purchased and delivered from somewhere else. But to make this all work, you must have a computer or access to one.

Using Influence to Motivate Others

2011-06-12T08:04:00.000-07:00

In today’s rapidly changing world due to a fast –paced lifestyle and busy workplace, one cannot help but sometimes feel down and out, which can cause negative results that affect productivity but one thing you could do is by using influence to motivate others.

The initial step in acquiring influence and power over others, especially in a working environment is to make sure that you make yourself valuable to the organization, not just for being a leader or manager, but to make yourself indispensable by focusing on some tasks that only you can master and one that will be valuable to the organization.

This step basically begins with you focusing on your job and doing it exceptionally and as you continue on, you develop your reputation of being a model employee, resulting to job promotions and better career opportunities offered by the company.

Next make yourself more helpful and valuable to more people in the organization, you can do this by going the extra mile when providing service or working on a project.

As this continues, not only do you expand your influence over others, you also expand your network of people, who consider you a valuable part of their work as well. The next step is for you to seek more opportunities in terms of career advancement and growth by seeking for a higher level of learning and acquiring a higher degree.

This can also be done by innovating more processes, like for a sales environment, think up of unique concepts and ideas to increase sales and productivity.

As you continue on with your career growth and climbing up the corporate ladder, you also allow yourself to expand your influence over a greater number of people in the organization. First thing that happens when you want to use your influence to motivate others is to first win them over.

Here are some common steps and actions to take to ensure having your edge of influence in an organization.

First, set the example. If you set the example of doing a good job or performing above expectations, people will look up to you and follow your example. You establish your reputation and credibility by being the person they expect you to be, better yet, exceed their expectations.

Second, be able to follow instructions with little or no supervision at all. This is one sure way that you help create an impression of reliability not only with your peers and your managers, but also with your subordinates as well.

Third, whenever you are working on something, make sure that you exceed expectations by trying your hardest and ensuring that you focus to make it work effectively and efficiently. This is one way that you motivate others to also try their hardest.

Forth, always behave maturely in front of everybody.

As a professional, you are expected to always display a professional demeanor. Not only are you setting the example of level-headedness, but you are also setting the environment for others to follow suit as well.

Lastly, always display a positive mental attitude, especially in the workplace. There will always be occasions where other people exhibit a sense of negative vibes or a depressing mood, but you can break the ice by showing a positive attitude.

In a nutshell, these five steps of setting the right example will pave the way for you to motivate others not only by what you do, but also using that influence to motivate others.

Does the Internet Influence Suicidal Behavior

2011-06-11T11:15:00.000-07:00

There are a lot of things you can learn online. Most of these are good and a few are bad. This brings us to the question whether or not the Internet influences something as bad as suicidal behavior.

Until now, there has been no conclusive evidence which suggests such a claim. If you look online, there are only reports that suggest it is possible. But why if ever does someone decide to kill themselves? Well to answer that, we have to look into the circumstances into their death.

A classic case could be that of a woman from Missouri who posed as a 16 year old boy and sent hateful messages of a neighbor. Since the girl couldn’t take it anymore, she decided to kill herself.

This case shows that she never wanted to end her life. She was persuaded to do so when the suspect said in one message, the world will be better off without her and since she felt so hurt by that statement, she actually did it.

But what if someone wanted to end their life? Can you find this information online? The answer is yes. In fact, researchers from the Universities of Bristol, Oxford and Manchester conducted a study and found that by simply typing a keyword like “how to commit suicide”, a number of sites will pop up showing how someone can actually do it.

What should be pointed out is that although it talks about suicide per se, a certain number of sites did not focus on how to do it but how to prevent it. An almost equal number discourages people from trying to do it and are offering counseling to those who feel the urge.

As parents, we can prevent our children by visiting such sites by using filtering software that block such sites from popping up should their children type this in one of the search engines. We should talk to our children and spend more time with them because by knowing what they are going through, such thoughts of ending their lives will not happen.

If they get hateful messages, tell them to ignore it. Should things get worse, tell them to delete their account and make a new one. As for those who sent the hateful messages, report them to the authorities and be sure to bring a copy of the email or a printout of the conversation because this can be used as evidence against the suspect.

The internet does not influence suicidal behavior. How someone would get the idea to do so must have come from someone else because even if there is information about how to do it online, that person was likely encouraged to do so by another individual.

What we can do to stop our children from every considering it is to monitor what sites are children frequent and be open to them. That way, if they are bullied or are affected by something, you will be able to console them rather than making them feel they are all alone and the only way out is to end their life.

If this is something you cannot take on alone, get professional help because it is better to act now rather than regretting not doing anything when your child was still alive.

The Power of Influence

2011-06-10T18:47:00.000-07:00

It is not a surprise to hear about people having their edge over others, especially with success spelled over their foreheads – this is the power of influence.

It may be blunt to say that there are people more gifted and successful than others, but this is not about being mean or cruel, it is how the power of influence affects the lives of people and how it helps maintain the balance of human nature.

There are several forms of human influence, but not matter what type it is, it will definitely set the tone for not only building character, but also differentiates the men from the boys.

Influence is the key factor in shaping how man is able to stand taller than the rest, it is the authority that takes the role of leadership in an organization or simply the voice that molds the opinion of others.

But generally, influence is what binds organizations, strengthens relationships, the defining thought in a somewhat difficult thought process.

Influence takes in many different forms and most commonly found in leadership, socialization, persuasion, advertising, sales, marketing and peer pressure, for which it is most commonly seen.

Influence is commonly defined as power or authority.

Common beliefs point to influence as a trait among those possessing advanced knowledge, sizable wealth, a better career path, more physically attractive, more assertive and with a much stronger character among others.

Influence can lead to persuasion which can sway other people to follow his line of thought or the idea he sells.

Aside from the physical ‘possessions’ of those who wield influence over others, there are also common human traits that these people are more blessed with, like a high self –esteem, confidence, optimism and intellect, among many others.

For those people with social influence, on the other hand, it is imbued in people considered as experts in their respective fields of endeavor, for whom many people look up to – that is their sphere of influence.

These experts render credibility and repute with their fields of endeavor, encompassing their influence over their fields of specialization.

Influence is not limited to an individual though, it is also manifested in areas like industries and businesses where it’s sphere of influence can be seen over a territory where they may have cornered the market, besting other competitors in the area.

It can also be manifested in the number of people employed in a certain business, which raises the sense of moral ascendancy of the establishment directly over their employees and their families, being their main source of income and livelihood.

The field of politics and governance also have it’s own sphere of influence, since politicians and government leaders maintain their influence over the people for their leadership capabilities and governing capacities.

Their sphere of influence is over their constituents, who have placed them in a position of power based on their intellect, leadership traits and governing potential, for which their constituents rest their confidence to lead and govern over them.

Police and military forces, on the other hand, are another form of influential forces, for which their sphere of influence is over the people and establishments within their jurisdiction, for which they are tasked to maintain peace and order.

So by now you know how influence helps to balance the forces and characteristics of human nature, especially since it defines how strengths make up for the weaknesses – that is the power of influence.

Negative Influences of Media on the Society

2011-06-10T02:21:00.000-07:00

There is no doubt that the media influences us. To state some examples to prove this claim, try answering the questions that follow. Do you feel like attempting a stunt from a movie? Do you base your fashion on what you see the celebrities are wearing? Do you copy the hairstyle of your favorite famous personalities? Have you ever attempted to walk model-like in an attempt to imitate those ramp models in fashion shows? If you answered yes to any of these questions, then it is accepting the influence on media in your life. However, it is important to dwell on the negative influences of media because these can change the dynamics of the society for the worse.

The media affects the way we act and think. It has a profound influence on the behavior of its audience. When people try to imitate something we had seen or heard, are they capable enough to distinguish between right from wrong? Young people often imitate their role models blindly. What is being highlighted in the entertainment industry is the wrongdoings of these celebrities whom the young people idolize. And because they are heroes in the youth’s minds, they are still celebrated despite the bad behavior they have been showing to the public.

This highlighting of the media is a negative effect on society. They satiate the people’s hunger for trivial information and rumors. They create buzz by hyping the issues with flowery words and provoking descriptions. Controversies are created left and right to get the attention of people.

Another negative influence of media is eating disorders. A significant number of youth nowadays are suffering from eating disorders attributable to unhealthy lifestyles that are emerging. The television programs, movies, and even print materials often showcase this lifestyle as fun activities despite their negative effect on health. Media hypes the acceptability of vices.

It has also been observed that children nowadays do not do the same activities as children of before. Instead of reading books, studying, playing outdoors with other children, and engaging in social activities, they end up being cooped up in their rooms watching television. And because of technological advancements and the availability of gadgets to young people, these children end up spending a significant amount of time in front of their computers and handheld video games.

Because Internet is readily available to children, they end up reading and learning things, which are not suitable for their age. They get exposed to indecency and inappropriate acts. They become wrapped up in a different world—a world of fantasy.

The changes in the behavior and outlook of people towards life are attributable to the negative psychological effects of media. Changes in cultural and moral values have been observed. Many people believe that what is depicted by the media is true and acceptable, altering their judgment and causing altercations.

The negative influences of media are vast. It affects the physical self, the emotions, the psychological aspect, and even the spiritual stand of many people. One negative influence can trigger another negative effect and this can cause a chain of reaction leading to destruction of relationships in society.

People must be vigilant to minimize these negative influences by being responsible towards oneself and other people especially the youth who are easy targets by the media.

The Similarities of Leadership and Influence

2011-06-09T08:51:00.000-07:00

Being a leader entails a lot more than just self –esteem or confidence, it also aims to let others understand and know the similarities of leadership and influence. In order to be a more effective leader, it is knowing how to transform lives and opinions, as well as making an impact in the lives of others without people feeling offended or develop a sense of resentment towards your motives and intentions.

A leader knows how to turn adversities into opportunities for change and transformation, instead of it being an obstacle or hurdles to development.

Here are some common suggestions about how to become an effective and influential leader.

Always start communicating to others with sincere appreciation and recognition for achievements and successes.

Try to bolster it with exerting every effort to boost the other person’s reputation and respect for which they may live up to and protect.

If people commit mistakes, never try to call their attention directly to the mistake, but try to make reference to the mistake or fault by seeing it as an area for improvement or opportunity, rather than one that could embarrass or put them to shame.

When trying to emphasize a point, make sure to focus on every mistake or fault as an opportunity to improve and whenever possible, always recognize every effort to recognize or praise even the slightest improvement , never ever be too selfish with praise and recognition.

Always use words of encouragement if you see the need to sell an idea and should the fault or mistake is the focus of attention, try to consider it as something that can be remedied or fixed with teamwork and solidarity.

Always emphasize on the strong points and not the weak ones, strong personality or group traits are better motivators for driving change and transformation, rather than focusing on the weaknesses and create a sense of depression and negative vibes throughout the team.

Also be passionate with your sincere efforts and interests to correct errors, also stressing on the benefits it can do for the group and directly with each individual members of the team. Always make it a point to let others save face, especially when placed in a precarious or embarrassing situation instead of giving out direct commands or instructions.

Should you be the one to commit that mistake, never be ashamed to accept it or admit your fault in front of other people. It is a good sign of strength of character and personality that is unique in a person that embodies the characteristics of a good and trustworthy.

Make it a point to always remember important dates like birthdays, anniversaries and other equally important and significant dates, especially those of your team members and friends. This will create a good impression upon them that you are not only and influential and good leader, but also a good friend, mentor and shoulder to lean on.

Never ever tire of listening to others, even the slightest remark or the unsolicited idea should be brought to the open and allow the person to speak up and be heard.

As a leader, you do not only influence others to your way of thinking, but also serve as a good facilitator and mediator who is always in control of the situation.

You may be surprised to find the similarities of leadership and influence, after all they are somewhat co existent with each other.

The Extent of Media Influence on Children

2011-06-08T14:14:00.000-07:00

The extent of media influence on children has always been the topic of organizations advocating effective parenting. Ever since the media took on full swing and reached everyone far and wide with its coverage, the talks on its influence on children has been in full swing as well.

Statistics has it that by the time a child turns 18, he must have seen around 200,000 acts of violence on television. Moreover, all these electronic media such as television, video games, movies, and computer had been tagged to have profound effects on young children. Such is the case of video games that depict violent acts. Because of the power of media to set examples for children to follow, the correlation between exposure to violence on television and the consequent development of aggressive behavior is still in question.

Furthermore, this boom in the electronic media creates a change in the society. It highly influences people and how they think. It has developed the power to set cultural norms because of its increasing prevalence in society.

As experts say, children naturally copy. For instance, there is a study showing that 14-month-old infants tend to copy actions they see on the television set. Another observation is that children develop heroes as they increase their liking towards a character or personality. For example, children idolize certain professional athletes that they tend to copy how their idols talk, dress, and behave. They enjoy emulating their heroes in hopes that they will become like them.

In the world of electronic media, violence is a dominant theme because it garners attention thus creating business opportunity for many. The more demand it generates, the number of opportunists increases. With this trend, children receive a constant dose of media violence and as a result develop more aggressive behavior.

This alone should be a cause of concern for parents who automatically send off their children to watch whatever they want while they are busy with their chores. Parents need to know what their children are watching because electronic media provides too many bad examples for children. Not all cartoons and animated shows are violent-free. It does not follow that pleasant-looking characters automatically offer wholesome viewing.

Because of this cause-and-effect dynamics, it follows that the more electronic media exposed to children, the more violent acts they would get to see. Hence, experts emphasize the need to limit the exposure and they advise parents and guardians to monitor the amount and content of exposure to television as well as to computer.

It is recommended that children under three years old be exposed to only two hours per week of electronic media activity, while children between three and eight years old should only be allowed 10 hours per week. This way, they can get enough interaction with other people, hence developing their social skills.

Because of the strong media influence on children, a child who is constantly exposed to television and other electronic media minimizes his chance of knowing how it is to interact with other children and family members. In a growing child, it is important for him to communicate and socialize effectively with other people because these ways will be carried over when he gets older.

The basics of everything we do as an adult can be traced back to our childhood.

Media Influences Society by Promoting Teenage Eating Disorders

2011-06-07T14:24:00.000-07:00

The youth of today is exposed to different media that illustrates a different standard of beauty by associating the term with underweight movie stars, models and musicians. It has come to a point that if the question were asked if media promotes anorexia, it won’t be surprising to get a resounding affirmation. The truth is children are exposed to images in television, magazines, newspapers, radio and other media forms, all of which give out the same message that the perfect beauty is skinny. It is no wonder that media influences society, in particular the youth, so that there is an increase of children suffering from eating disorders.

Although eating disorders for a child isn’t all because of the negative influence of the media. Some children are just more likely to develop anorexia and some might be at risk of developing other types of eating disorders without the negative effect of media.

Sending False Messages

Today’s media is obsessed with physical appearances or a person’s external beauty. The media landscape in the generation of Marilyn Monroe and Rita Hayworth promoted a different type of beauty, one that isn’t skinny or scrawny. The standard of beauty has since evolved over the years in which beautiful means wearing a size zero and no more than that. Otherwise, you are labeled as fat.

An example of such phenomenon is when after bearing two children Britney Spears shows up in a skimpy outfit and was mocked by the media because of how much she’s gone fat. Despite giving birth to two children, she isn’t even close to ‘fat’ but the media was overly critical by being offended by how the pop star had the guts to wear such an outfit with a figure like that.

With such an example, it is no longer surprising that the youth of today has such a distorted view of what the ideal beauty is about.

Perfect isn’t Perfect

Today’s youth oriented television shows and magazines use personalities that are rarely overweight or even have normal weight which further sends out the wrong message that perfect beauty is thin. From the time a child gets into their pre-teen years until their middle-teen years they are constantly exposed to what so-called perfect beauty is and the need to look just absolutely perfect.

Imagine if Marilyn Monroe and Rita Hayworth were alive today, they would be considered fat, which is quite a shock. This shows how much the standard of perfection and beauty has really evolved. Isn’t it surprising to realize that these iconic symbols of beauty, health and sex are now deemed flawed? The idea seems unreal.

Getting it Right

Media influences society, in particular children, with continuous messages of what today’s society consider as ideal and a very negative of idea of what is perfect. In order to limit a child or a teenager’s exposure to these negative influences is by limiting their exposure to shows that promote harmful ways of altering one’s body image and the same goes for magazines.

It’s important to teach children of what a healthy body image is by encouraging them to stay fit in body and mind instead of focusing on looks and beauty. Also, it’s important to keep track of your child’s self esteem issues and their body image.

The Negative Media Influence on Girls Appearance

2011-06-06T14:51:00.000-07:00

Media plays an important role in the lives of people nowadays. It serves to inform and entertain at the same time. The radio keeps the motorists company along their way. The television acts as refuge after a long day at work. The newspaper keeps the people abreast of the latest political issues. The computer is the hub of the different types of information through the use of the Internet. Latest gadgets have been the pastime of many young people. The magazines become the reference material of girls as they attempt to look attractive, which is just one example of the media influence on girls appearance.

The women that are most of the time featured on magazines are fashion models, pop stars or singers, and actresses. Most of them are skinny and have seemingly perfect hair, skin, everything. Accepting being underweight is one of the messages that get across to the readers of these magazines.

Additionally, a number of these celebrities are also seen doing vices such as smoking and extreme dieting that many people think these are effective ways of attaining that industry-standard body type. Celebrities who openly smoke sends the message that smoking is a “cool” thing regardless of the health risks it can bring about.

What most women do not know is that sometimes going on a diet and being underweight is tantamount to being undernourished. Another effect is losing menstrual period, that when this condition is prolonged can lead to fertility problems. Another trivia is that constant or extreme dieting can lead to weight gain problems in the long run.

In a research, about 70% of women felt more insecure and worse about themselves after having to read fashion magazines. Furthermore, about half of the teen girls read these types of magazines, resulting to a significant number of girls insecure about their bodies.

In movies, what most people do not know is that a number of actresses use body doubles to showcase a perfect silhouette of their body shape when the scenes warrant it. Moreover, admitting to cosmetic surgery misleads a lot of women that this is the only means of feeling beautiful. Because of this, there has been an alarming increase of teens that get plastic surgeries.

Movies and shows that depict hate and violence directed at women send a message to the young ones that these terms are acceptable to use. Certain songs have been popularized and have been known for their derogatory words. Certain advertisements too have imageries of violence towards women in an attempt to make it appear fashionable and even sexy.

With regard to video games, the female characters are stereotyped as being the victims of violence, rarely as the heroines. To add to this, racism becomes evident because there are some races that always portray the lower classes of the society. In case the female video game characters are the heroines, they are stereotyped and expected to be gorgeous, young, and usually white. Again, there is no room for those who are not in the category of industry-dictated standards.

The media influence on girls appearance is a profound one. The underlying effect of being conscious about the physical self is of a psychological one. It can cause a chain of reaction, which can be self-destructive as well as detrimental towards others.

How to Influence People

2011-06-05T21:09:00.000-07:00

Many people want to know the secret of how to influence people, seeing the fact that not only is it beneficial for them, but is also a good way to build character and relationships as well.

There are numerous ways on how to handle influence and what it can do to people, but there are certain fundamental yet very effective ways on how to try and influence other people.

First fundamental rule about how to influence other people is to know that first, it is important to consider that influence is not about self, it is recognizing the fact that one is being considerate of others and conscious about their state of affairs.

Selflessness is not about submitting oneself to the idea of giving up one’s individuality, but it is recognizing others and being sensitive also about their needs and wants.

Second fundamental rule of influence is being mindful of not criticizing others, especially

in resisting the urge to complain or condemn others indiscriminately.

Rule of thumb is that you rarely find people wanting to be criticized, regardless of whether what they have done is wrong or right, or whether criticism is constructive or destructive – no one wants to be criticized.

Recognizing this, one must be aware that criticizing is always pointing a finger at somebody and telling them right in the face that what they did is wrong, no matter how much it is packaged or euphemized.

Also the same goes with complaining and condemning, since it brings out the defense mechanism with others and builds resentment, as well as hurt self- esteem.

In order to succeed in gaining the most influence out of others, positive reinforcement is the key, instead of pointing out what is wrong and what is obviously their own fault.

The third fundamental rule is the selfless act of always giving honest and sincere appreciation of others, especially for those that have done the right thing.

This creates a morale boosting sense of accomplishment and want, reinforcing and further encouraging others in not having to be forced to succeed in doing what is socially acceptable and politically correct.

Next fundamental rule is getting to arouse in others an eagerness or desire to be passionate about one thing or an idea about something.

By doing this, one needs to be genuinely interested in others, a trait which bespeaks of selflessness and being considerate of other people.

Another fundamental rule is knowing how to bring out the best in others. This means that by doing so, a person must know how to encourage others to be more confident of themselves and know how to take control of life’s situations.

It is by helping them understand that importance of having good self –esteem and allowing others to value their own worth and, as well as their sense or pride and achievements.

Be a good listener.

The fact that a person is willing enough to listen, makes them good enough to take control of the situation.

Being able to listen is a true test of leadership and will make one understand the importance of how it means to influence other people.

Lastly, be able to admit making mistakes. Do not force yourself into believing that everything you do is right.

So always try to remember that to know how to influence people, one must also know how to give in to selfless acts.

Parents Influence is Important

2011-06-05T02:43:00.000-07:00

Parents influence is important as a child grows up. After all, they are the first people that will come into contact with them until they exposed to people in school and the outside world. But this task is easier said than done which is why parents have to exercise certain techniques that are proven to be effective.

When your child misbehaves, one technique to tell them what they are doing is wrong is the reprimand. Here, you basically call their attention and explain why this is not the proper thing to do. Whenever this is done, make sure that you maintain eye contact with your child and tell them that there are consequences for what they did.

Another technique that also works is called exclusion. Here, you tell your child to sit in a corner and then think about what they did. After several minutes or an hour, talk to them about what happened so they know why it is wrong and why should not happen again.

Sometimes not doing anything is the best technique to use on a child. This is because scolding them or calling their attention will just encourage them to continue doing it. Ignoring at times makes that type of behavior stop. Just remember to talk to them about it later on.

Parents, children and teachers have to work together should the child have a problem in school. The first to notice this is of course the teachers since they are the one who grade them in the classroom and if something goes wrong, the teacher calls the parent to come to school to discuss the problem.

Once the parents finds out about it, reprimanding the child is not the solution but finding out what is causing it is the proper course of action. If the child has poor study habits this has to be changed by removing whatever objects that distract the child from studying.

If they can’t do this, the parent can get help from the school by requesting help from the teacher to offer extra work after school or be taught by a peer. This should be monitored daily until such time that the child’s grades improve and they can work on this by themselves.

Reprimanding the child is not the only way to have an influence on their lives. There has to be a balance so if they do something good, you should give credit where it is due. You can give them a pat on the back, a handshake, and saying to them “good job” or “keep up the good work.” That way, they will know that this type of behavior is good and they will continue doing it.

The techniques mentioned especially when it comes to bad behavior is a change from the traditional spanking which we probably got from our parents when we were young. Such an approach goes to show that we can teach our kids right from wrong without resorting to physical harm which is detrimental to the child’s growth.

If we are able to exercise such measures, our children will be taught how to discipline their children when they too become parents. It may be 20 or 30 years before this happens but at least they are already taught at a young age that there are ways to influence the youth without raising a hand.

Friends Influence Who We Are

2011-06-04T09:03:00.000-07:00

We can’t help it but the friends we have influence who we are. If the friends we have are good, then chances are you won’t do anything stupid like take drugs. This is difference of course if you hang out with people who do bad things because violence escalates and you will probably end up in jail.

This is the reason why parents should know who their son or daughter hang out. If the parent notices certain behavior of the friend that is not acceptable, talk to your child about it and tell them that it is wrong.

Such an approach is better than telling your child not to be friends with this person anymore because this will strengthen the bond between the two of them rather than creating a distance.

Aside from knowing who their friends are, it will also be a good idea to know who their parents are. This will make it easier for you to talk with them should you notice a problem and this should also be something that they have to work on as well.

You should use this time to ask them certain questions about what expectations they have for their child and whoever they hang out with so you will also be able to express your opinion. This will also give you time to figure out what activities your kids can do with theirs since this is different for each family.

But how do we do that? There are many ways and you should be imaginative. If you have the time, try volunteering in the school where your child is in or join one of the committees. This will allow you to watch your child without them knowing it and spend more time with them.

Another option is to invite your child’s friends to your house so you can formally meet them. Since you want to see how the friends behave outside the home, go out with them by watching a movie. Pick them up and drive them home so you can spend some time getting to know them.

Your child will not only meet people in school but in the neighborhood and lately online as well. If they have a social networking account, chances are they will meet other people and some of these individuals live in other states or other countries.

When you are faced with this dilemma, don’t panic because there are ways you can monitor who your child meets online. To do this, you have to set up an account in the same social network and then get added into their account.

If your child finds out that you impersonated someone else, this could be perceived as an invasion of their privacy. Should this happen, talk to them about it and explain why you did it.

In psychology, there is a saying where “tell me who your friends are and I will tell you who you are” and such a statement is very true when we are influenced by media and other people instead of our parents. This will inevitably happen as or children reach the adolescent stage and although we can’t do anything about it, we should be ready to talk to our children because you are the only person they can turn to if something bad happens.

Influence people with your way of thinking

2011-06-03T17:39:00.000-07:00

Many ask what is it with those who are with some individuals who are able to influence people with their way of thinking.

It’s not magic or mystical powers that make it possible, but simply on the fact that these people are more confident in themselves compared to those who are not, have good self –esteem and are able to adapt with the social environment.

Having influence over others is not rocket science and you may be surprised at how easy it is to win friends and influence other people, not just with the way you shape or mold their opinion, but also win them over with the way you think.

Here are some tried and tested best practices that have worked for influential and powerful people.

First, respect other people’s opinions or thoughts. Avoid making comments or telling people that they are wrong.

This creates animosity and does not carry a good message to others about how you carry yourself or how you are close –minded about things, especially with the way people think.

Always avoid getting into arguments and if presented with a situation where you may be tempted to do so, try to resist it in any which way you can.

Never ever try to get into a debate. Leave debates over to its proper forum or in the academic or political arena, but never in a social conversation or interaction.

Always try to start conversations in a friendly and accommodating manner, this eases up tension and creates a good first impression that will ultimately redound to you winning people over because you initiated the communication process that makes people comfortable with you.

Never ever regret admitting that you are wrong and always make every effort to let people know about how you can openly admit your mistakes whenever you get the chance to do so.

Secondly, whenever you try to speak your mind or communicate with others, make it a point to get the feel of what others also think so that you can win them over with your opinion or frame of mind.

Thirdly, let others do most of the talking and should you be the one to take the turn to say your piece, plan it carefully and always make it a point to listen when others speak, since it is a good display and sign of respect.

Always honestly and sincerely view things from the other person’s perspective, desires and ideas.

Be sympathetic and sensitive to their ideas and points of view as well.

Also, try to encourage intentions with nobler and sincere motives and ideas, if so, try to always be passionate about it and always aim for truthfulness and positive frame of mind.

Never be ashamed to be dramatic, even symbolic, about your ideas since it makes people more comfortable and subscribe to your ideas as also good or beneficial for them.

Lastly, try to always throw in a challenge or persuade others to create an opinion about your ideas, this is one way you could persuade others to create an impression or their perspective of your point of view.

So these are the ways how you could influence people with your way of thinking and always make it a point to be selfless, understanding, sympathetic or compassionate, rather than selfish, arrogant or inconsiderate.

Understanding Society’s Influence on Education

2011-06-03T00:06:00.000-07:00

Society and education are two inseparable elements in our world. It has always been in talks how education influences the society. The things we are taught and what we learn through our schooling affects the kind of person we are and consequently influences the society as a whole. But seldom do we tackle on society’s influence on education.

In definition, society is an extended social group having a distinctive cultural and economic organization. The building blocks of society are we human beings. How people interact creates the pattern of relationships between individuals and thus characterizes the society according to the systems of customs, values, and laws.

Education, understanding it from a general perspective, is any learning that we obtain from different media. Education does not start on our first day of formal schooling. Nor is it bound by the four walls of the room where an educator imparts his knowledge. It starts from the first forms of interaction as human being. It continues even as we leave the classrooms. We learn from anything we do, hear, see—that is, we gain knowledge from our surroundings.

With this in mind, how the society is greatly affects the education of its constituents. If the society believes in a set of norms and values, it is but natural for these individuals to inculcate to others their principles. What a society upholds will be reflected in the way the people interact with others. And these interactions provide learning to both parties. This is what is called non-formal education from the society.

Society plays a significant role in education. It can influence it both ways, positively and negatively. The values, morals, and principles of a society will create an education system that upholds the same values, morals, and principles. A social group that believes in righteous acts and decent interactions will hone its individuals to teach the same to other people.

However, there are certain inequalities in the society that creates a negative effect on education. There are societies that deny women’s right to education. There are discriminations against the women wanting to enter certain fields of study. Conversely, men are also discriminated against penetrating certain fields of study that women dominate.

Moreover, there are societies that force children to work denying them of the formal education. This exposes them to an unhealthy environment that halts their growth and development. What they are learning while working at such a young age is not the expected learning had they been allowed to study and exposed to healthy surroundings.

The social status also dictates the kind of education people can obtain. The cost of education can be correlated with the social system—that is, as you go up the social classes, so is your capability to get education. In gist, you can get the best education if you can afford it.

Conquering these inequalities is a challenge to everyone. There is no question regarding society’s influence on education but it is up to us if we will allow society to have a negative impact not just on the education system alone but also on the overall development of an individual. We have to be mindful and vigilant in correcting unlawful and unjust ways so we can slowly mold the society into becoming a good effect on education.

How to Influence People at Work

2011-06-02T01:54:00.001-07:00

At work, there will be times that you will have to cooperate with other people to get the job done. Since brainstorming usually happens before any action is taken, you have to know how to influence the rest of the group so you guys are able to move on from there.

But how do we do that? Well the first thing you have to do is make sure everyone is on the same page with regards to what needs to be done. Although this may make you look bossy, you have every right if you happen to be the project manager.

You don’t have to do this forcefully because this is surely not the first time you have worked with this group. Just go with the flow and try to please everyone so everything will go smoothly until the job is done. The best way to do is to keep the lines of communication open and giving their suggestions some thought before dismissing it completely.

Another great suggestion will be to delegate certain tasks because this will make the other members in the group also feel important. This also sends a powerful message that you believe in their ability and once they get accustomed to this, you boost their confidence and competence.

Your basis in given them an assignment should be based on their experience but if you want to them to try something new, make sure you are ready to help if they encounter a problem. Just be sure to check up on them is to ask for a report at certain stages of the project.

If some people should go off track, remind them that you guys have a deadline and that there are people waiting for what you will be able to come up with. Make sure you say this politely so you don’t sound arrogant or superior even if you happen to be the most senior member in the group.

When everyone is tired after working on the project for hours, tell the group to take a break because you guys need to recharge your batteries.

When the project is over, don’t forget to thank everyone for their help and give credit where it is due. The last thing that your group wants to hear is your boss praising only you for a job well done when the other members contributed their share to make it work. That is another way to have a good relationship with them and ensure that you won’t have any problems working with them in future projects.

Keeping the group together, delegating tasks and saying what you want done properly is the proper way of influencing your colleagues at work. If you have never been a project manager before, don’t worry because this takes a bit of practice and time to gain their respect especially if you were always the one being told what to do for a project.

But if you are given the opportunity, make the most of it because this is the best time to show the bosses who you really are. As long as you maintain your composure and continue to be honest and trustworthy, there is no doubt that you will have influenced these people in some way and will continue to have a good working relationship with them.