BARKING orders works if you’re the boss, but what hope is there for a lesser mortal asking favours from a teammate in another time zone, for example? The answer is zero unless you’ve polished your powers of persuasion until they shine. Here’s how to influence others to get what you want at work:

1. Who’s in charge? To wrap your boss around your little finger, work out what is important to him or her, says Octavius Black, managing director of The Mind Gym, a training company. “Give him or her what they want so they are relaxed and on board,” he says. “Then you can move in [and ask] for what you want.”

2. Call in favours. Research shows that people are more likely to help you if you have done something for them first, says Steve Martin, the UK head of Influence at Work, a consultancy and training firm. “Good business people . . . understand this and look to invest in others, knowing that when they need help they have a network of obligation that they can call on.”

3. Resolving a dispute. If you want to turn a discussion in your favour, forget what someone is telling you and really listen to find out what lies behind his or her argument, Black says. Empha-sise any points of agreement before suggesting a solution that meets their interests and, importantly, satisfies your own.

How to get a new job

In the words of a once-popular reggae song: You can get it if you really want it, so step up to the challenge

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4. Find common ground. Colleagues are more likely to say yes to you if they think that you have something in common, Martin says. Find out what you can about a prospective contact and then say if you graduated from the same university before making your request. A negotiation is more likely to be successful if such personal links are established.

5. The power of authority. You are more likely to get others to respond positively to a request if they think that you’re an expert, Martin says. Find a colleague to introduce you as a know-it-all to boost your standing before asking the new contact to support you or your work.

6. Win or lose? "We are most influenced by the idea of losing something than the idea of gaining the same thing,” Martin says. We are also more likely to follow the crowd in periods of uncertainty. So, when you write a proposal, underline what the firm stands to lose.

7. Press delete. Don’t copy too many correspondents into an e-mail if you want anyone to respond, Martin says. “People will read lots of names and think that someone else will deal with it, and as a result no one does.”

8. Don’t get carried away. If you’re found bending the truth to get your own way, your colleagues are unlikely to be swayed by your arguments in the future.

9. Coach yourself. Sometimes you have to talk yourself into the things that you want such as a big promotion, says Rachel Brushfield, a career coach at Energise, an executive coaching service. Take time out to ask yourself open questions about a goal such as, “What do I really want?” she says. Write down the answers then take simple actions to move your plans forward.

10. Yes, you can. Self-confidence goes a long way in getting you what you want. Ask friends and colleagues to give you some feedback on your qualities and achievements. Keep the comments in a happy notes file and read it when you need a shot of confidence, Brushfield says.

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