Dean of Academic Affairs and Operations at South University’s West Palm Beach campus, Joseph Simplicio, Ph.D., published the results of his research on building bases of influence in a college setting in the Journal of Instructional Psychology, vol. 36, issue 2, June 2009, which is a journal focused on issues related to instruction and educational management.
The article “Building Bases of Influence Within a College” is the result of 1.5 years of research conducted at six colleges, where Dr. Simplicio investigated common factors among employees in the college setting who were effective and successful in their roles. In particular, he looked at those without defined authority and power, such as independent contributors.
“Those employees who were getting things done had, over time, built a base of influence among decision makers, those with defined authority, and employees who served as impromptu leaders,” said Dr. Simplicio. “They had strong interpersonal skills, often advocated for other employees’ good ideas, and mastered effective communication skills. The cumulative result was they developed a reputation for expediting projects and ideas by using power effectively.”
The article reviews various strategies for building these bases of influence and for developing an effective personal networking system, which includes establishing support among marginal independent contributors and providing opportunities for success.
About South University
Established in 1899, South University is a private academic institution dedicated to providing educational opportunities for the intellectual, social and professional development of a diverse student population. South University offers educational programs at the associate, bachelor’s, master’s and doctoral levels with campuses located in Columbia, S.C.; Montgomery, Ala.; Richmond, Va., Savannah, Ga.; Tampa and West Palm Beach, Fla.
Further information on South University is available at: www.southuniversity.edu.