Inform
You help people understand.
Your influence comes from clarity, context, and well-structured explanation. When groups need to know what’s happening, why it matters, or how something works, you’re the person they listen to. Your opportunity is to shift from understanding to uptake.
Your strengths and watch-outs
You’re strongest when influence requires:
Bringing clarity to confusion
Providing relevant context groups genuinely need
Helping people “get the picture” without overwhelm
Communicating logic, rationale, and direction effectively
Making complex or abstract ideas accessible
Watch-outs for this style include:
Groups understand the message, but don’t feel it
The communication stays informative rather than motivating
People nod along… but don’t change what they do next
Too much explaining, not enough involvement or participation
The Four Ways to Move a Group
Every attempt to influence a group creates one of four effects.
Your dominant style is Inform, but each outcome serves a different purpose depending on what you’re trying to achieve
Compliance
The required response.
Asks: Did they do it?
Push + One-Size
Goal: Get people to complete a required action.
Inform
The understood response.
Asks: Did they understand it?
Push + Personalized
Goal: Build clarity and understanding.
Entertain
The delighted response.
Asks: Did they enjoy it?
Pull + One-Size
Goal: Capture attention or delight in the moment.
Engage
The changed response.
Asks: Did it affect them enough to change what they do next?
Pull + Personalized
Goal: Create ownership, behavior change, and buy-in.