According to social entrepreneur and leadership author Jo Owen, anyone can enhance their personal impact and influence by focusing on people with a positive and professional approach. He suggests:

• Focusing on people by decentering yourself, managing up, supporting others and building commitment networks
• Being positive by possessing drive, ambition and self-awareness. This means being adaptable and finding solutions, rather than simply identifying problems. It means recognising and embracing ambiguity as an opportunity, not simply as a risk. It means managing conflict well, and communicating a clear vision, handling crises, focusing on ‘must win’ battles and being decisive
• Being professional by continuing to learn about your business and your leadership, mastering core skills and seeing beyond your own silo or remit. This also means demonstrating honesty and integrity; being a role model for the core values you like to see reflected back from those you seek to influence. It means being loyal and reliable.

Individuals with impact and influence have a strong presence and can confidently communicate with a range of stakeholders and lead by example. Good leaders use such people as role models; they might seek their advice, or even ask them to be formal mentors. 

In contrast, an ineffective individual demonstrates poor people focus, is egocentric and has no political awareness. He or she is expertise-focused rather than people-focused and is naive with regard to networks and politics. They tend to hire weak copies of themselves, delegate poorly and are threatened by talent. They see problems only and delegate upwards while retreating into their comfort zone and avoiding responsibility. Rather than assuming a professional approach, they like to be one of the lads or lasses, focusing on any status attached to their position.

You can probably think of examples of these kinds of people. You may not be able to avoid them, but you do not need to emulate them.