Don was a newcomer to our workgroup. He was intelligent and hard working. He would come to the office on time. He would stay late and get work done. In his undergrad, he appeared in the Dean’s list, got straight As and was highly recommended by his professor to this job.

But whenever he would be in a meeting, he just couldn’t make an impact. Everyone knew he had good knowledge about his subject. Often what he would say was right, but then why was he not making an impact? Why wasn’t his opinion being heard?

The answer –some of the qualities needed to make a better impact were missing in Don. There are some qualities that are absolutely necessary for making an impact. Even if you do not have one of these qualities, you will not make an impact. Let’s look at these qualities one by one.

The Six Qualities for Better Impact

1. Credibility – Having credibility is absolutely necessary to make an impact on someone. If people don’t trust you, they won’t listen to you. And if you can’t make them listen, there is no way you will be able to make an impact.

2. Self-Belief – Before asking others to listen to you and convincing them, you should convince yourself. You should have no doubts in your own mind about the idea or suggestion you are proposing. If you don’t believe in yourself, no one else will.

3. Communication Skills – You might have a great idea but if you cannot present it comfortably, you won’t make an impact. Being able to communicate effectively will help you in getting your point across. There are some tips about communication here.

4. Positive Attitude – Another important quality to make an impact is being positive. If you are suggesting an idea, you need to feel good about it. It is only then that you will be able to make an impact.

5. Passion – Passion is a fabulous thing. It can change the attitude of people around you. If you have passion for your work, it will reflect in everything you do at work. A person with passion for work can impact anyone at work with ease.

6. Appearance – The way you carry yourself says a lot about you. Most people will not accept a person who wears crushed and dirty clothes for doing business. A cleanly dressed individual leaves a good impression and will find a better reception from the colleagues.

What qualities have you seen? What tips have you used?

Let’s hear from our readers. Tell us about your ideas and tips for making an impact. What qualities do you think are important for creating an impact? Share your thoughts below.