Reference/Features

Developing influence to promote change

7 mins read Communication/patient education
What is influence, how is it developed and what can be done with it? Dental nurses can and should be able to use influence to promote change that benefits themselves, their profession and, most importantly, their patients

One definition of ‘influence’ is ‘the power or ability to affect someone's beliefs or actions’. This tends towards affecting, determining, guiding, shaping, governing or altering something. A second definition is: ‘The power arising out of status, contacts or wealth’. This tends more towards having power and authority over someone or something (Waite and Hawker, 2009). It may be argued that, within each definition, having influence is a form of empowerment for the individual who has it.

The connection between power and influence is clear, and people's power within a team may be fundamental to their ability to influence change (Boonstra and Bennebroek Gravenhorst, 1998; Hartley and Benington, 2010). The question is: do dental nurses feel that they are, could or should be empowered enough to influence change in the dental team?

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