Unlocking Your Potential: 3 Ways To Hone Your Influence

For the past few days, God has been pressing the word “influence” into my heart like a child molding Play-Doh. Now, this feels odd to me because, as I’m typing this, my Instagram following is at 260—maybe a bit more, but not much. Why? I deleted my old account and started a new one, which, in hindsight, wasn’t the best idea.

When you think of “influence,” you probably imagine someone with a robust following, posting beautiful pictures on Instagram or eye-catching videos on TikTok, maybe even securing a few sponsorships. And you’d be right—kind of.

After working in Influencer Marketing for almost a year, I’ve learned a lot about the ins and outs of this field. And while it’s still evolving, one thing remains clear: you can have 260 followers and still be an influencer. But there are a few fundamentals to clarify first.

You've Always Had Influence

Let’s look at the first female influencer—Eve. She’s often blamed for humanity’s downfall, but she deserves grace, just like we do.

“The woman was convinced. She saw that the tree was beautiful and its fruit looked delicious, and she wanted the wisdom it would give her. So she took some of the fruit and ate it. Then she gave some to her husband, who was with her, and he ate it, too. At that moment their eyes were opened, and they suddenly felt shame at their nakedness.” —Genesis 3:6-7 [NLT]

God gave Adam instructions, yet Eve influenced him to partake in what was forbidden.

From Eve to you, influence has been part of a woman’s DNA since the beginning.

Eve may not have used her influence for good, but her actions show just how powerful influence can be.

I’ll never forget when someone I knew closely began applying what they learned from 5th-grade English in how they texted. They started using a comma before my name in messages—something we’re taught in school when addressing someone in a sentence. I use correct punctuation in my texts because I’m passionate about writing, and before long, my friends, family, and even those commenting on my posts were doing the same. Commas were popping up everywhere. This small example shows how influence works—it’s in the little things we don’t even notice.

Assess Your Influence

Now, take a moment to reflect. Who in your life has made better decisions because of something you did? Maybe someone went back to school, started taking better care of their body, or moved to a new state because they were inspired by you. Influence is as much a part of you as the color of your eyes or the texture of your hair.

Let’s take a deeper look:

“So David left Gath and escaped to the cave of Adullam. Soon his brothers and all his other relatives joined him there. Then others began coming—men who were in trouble or in debt or who were just discontented—until David was the captain of about 400 men.” —1 Samuel 22:1-2 [NLT]

David was on the run from Saul and found himself hiding in a cave. Despite his circumstances, others began to join him—people who were broken, in debt, or discontented. David didn’t have to promote himself; he simply lived authentically, and people followed. God turned what was meant to destroy him into something that worked in his favor.

Like David, people are drawn to your life, whether you realize it or not. Ensure that the example you set glorifies God, and He will honor that with increase.

Be Influential “Here” Before You Get “There”

We tend to think of “there” as the magical place where life comes together, but if we don’t master “here,” “there” will never be enough.

“But David persisted. ‘I have been taking care of my father’s sheep and goats,’ he said. ‘When a lion or a bear comes to steal a lamb from the flock, I go after it with a club and rescue the lamb from its mouth. If the animal turns on me, I catch it by the jaw and club it to death.’” —1 Samuel 17:34-37 [NLT]

Before David became a king, he was faithful with his father’s sheep—animals most would consider insignificant. David ensured they were fed, groomed, and protected, even putting his life on the line for them. Even while on his way to face Goliath, he made sure his sheep were taken care of.

Now, let’s take another assessment. What areas of your life has God given you influence over? Who is drawn to the message you bring to the spaces you occupy? Whether you’re a stay-at-home mom, a third-grade teacher, an entrepreneur, or the CEO of a Fortune 500 company,

God has entrusted you with influence. Steward it well by taking care of what’s in your hands “here,” not “there.”

Since the beginning of time, women have been influential. This power is innate, potent, and operable whether we realize it or not. How can we hone it? First, be aware that you are influential right where you are. Second, assess the areas and people you influence to know your lane and steward your gift well. Lastly, be faithful with “here” so you can appreciate “there.”

Sis, you’ve been an influencer since Eve, and it’s time to bring that power into the spaces you occupy for the glory of God—fearlessly, authentically, and unapologetically.