Other A question on influence and leadership

I'm developing a sort-of temporal analytics system to map information (users are also defined as information in this system) and predict trends on a global scale.

I'd like to seek your help in answering a question to help me out. While I begin the first stages of research, I'm trying to get some different perspectives.

What observable characteristics can one use to measure how influential someone is in a given field or community?

Please feel free to respond however it suits you, part of the result is the individual interpretation of the question.

Thanks for your time, and assistance.

*j

 

How the people around them react to them, do they listen? Do they take note?

 

How much time you're willing to give them or how many favours they can ask for before they seem to be taking liberties.

Now go mod.

 

People can be influenced in different ways. Some people will earn the respect of those around them and become influential that way. The other way is ruling with a fist of iron and gaining influence that way.

 

All of that and do others follow your suggestions or ideas? When you communicate have you gotten anyone's attention?

 

Facial symmetry, waist/hip ratio

...Followers on Twitter? Friends on Facebook?

 

All very good answers and I thank you for your contribution.

Would anyone care to elaborate? Or would anyone else like to chime in?

Thanks again.
Keep it coming.
*j

 

oops. Double post.

 

to what extent people imitate them.

Also, when this person gives and instruction / order do people actually change how they do things or just go through the motions for a couple of days and then go back to how they've always done it.

 

any rewards earned (knighthoods, Manager of the month , won the league in 1982 , Nobel etc)

i would also question whether the people are correctly influential in their fields. Gordon Brown for example may have done a good job (in some peoples opinion - not mine) as a chancellor but should never have become PM


also what is influence, for example

was watching quiz of the year the other day and none of the people answering had had a job prior to entertainment but would probably be influential should they start talking about tax systems and economy (yet they may not even have a gcse in MAths)


which i suppose leads towards Popularity and having a position from which to speak.

 

I love the individual insights! Thanks again everyone.

I'd still like to hear from more of you, but I'll start by sharing a few of the responses I've received:

What observable characteristics can one use to measure how influential someone is in a given field or community?

 

How often they are mentioned/quoted in established media concerning that field or community. For example, as a scientist, - how many citations they receive in a scientific journal.

 

Thanks a lot for your answer man. Much appreciated.