Why spotting "hidden influencers" at work matters

WHEN one thinks of influencers these days, it is usually in a less-than-flattering light. Often dismissed as jobless millennials out to fleece corporations and hoodwink the public, the term "influencer" is now synonymous with "freeloader".

With the bad rep that social media "influencers" get, it overshadows the fact that being influential is, in fact, a good thing. It is a powerful privilege to be able to influence others, which comes with great responsibility.

While the ability to influence is an important attribute for leaders, it is also a trait not exclusively reserved for the top dogs or top performers. At work, people with influence can be found throughout the organisation, in all kinds of roles and departments. Surprisingly, some of these people can be hard to spot indeed, as their clout may not be obvious.