THE INFLUENCE MODEL®

The Positive Power & Influence® Model

A proven framework used in our Influence Skills Training
programs to help leaders gain buy-in, influence stakeholders and achieve results without relying on formal authority.

The Positive Power & Influence® Model is a proven influence framework that helps professionals achieve results while maintaining strong working relationships.

Built around two complementary influence approaches, Push and Pull, the model provides a practical way to understand how influence behaviors affect communication, collaboration, and outcomes.

At the heart of the Positive Power & Influence® Model is the concept of positive influence: achieving business objectives while strengthening professional relationships.

How the Model Supports Influence Skills Training

The Positive Power & Influence® Model serves as the practical framework behind many of our Influence Skills Training programs.

Through research-backed influence principles, the model helps leaders, managers, and professionals build credibility, gain commitment, align stakeholders, and achieve results without relying solely on formal authority.

Whether applied in leadership development, stakeholder influence initiatives, or influence without authority programs, the model provides practical tools for creating positive outcomes across organizations.

How the Model Supports Influence Skills Training

Explore the programs that apply the Positive Power & Influence® Model to help leaders gain buy-in, align stakeholders, and drive action across organizations.

What Makes the Positive Power & Influence® Model Unique?

The Positive Power & Influence® Model provides a practical framework for understanding how influence works in professional environments.

Unlike approaches that focus only on achieving results or only on maintaining relationships, the model helps individuals balance both outcomes simultaneously.

Its simplicity, flexibility, and practical application have made the Positive Power & Influence® Model one of the most widely used frameworks for understanding influence behavior in organizations.

The Core Principle of Positive Power & Influence®

The Positive Power & Influence® Model is based on a simple principle: effective influence should achieve results while preserving relationships.
Many influence approaches focus primarily on outcomes or relationships. The Positive Power & Influence® Model demonstrates that sustainable influence comes from balancing both.
This balance allows professionals to communicate more effectively, adapt to changing situations, and create positive outcomes across a wide range of workplace interactions.
By understanding how different influence behaviors affect people and outcomes, individuals can become more intentional, flexible, and effective in the way they influence others.

Long-term influence depends heavily on credibility. Leaders who establish trust and build strong relationships before critical conversations occur are often in a stronger position to influence outcomes successfully.

These principles are especially valuable when leaders need to influence stakeholders, gain buy-in and achieve results without formal authority.

The Push and Pull Influence Model

PUSH

Push is one of the two core influence approaches within the Positive Power & Influence® Model.

Push behaviors focus on expressing ideas, providing direction, establishing expectations, and advancing decisions.

The model defines two primary Push behaviors: Asserting and Persuading.

When used effectively, Push creates clarity, focus, and momentum.

When overused, it can create resistance and reduce engagement.

PULL

Pull is the second core influence approach within the Positive Power & Influence® Model.

Pull behaviors focus on understanding others, encouraging participation, building trust, and strengthening commitment.

The model defines two primary Pull behaviors: Bridging and Attracting.

When balanced effectively, Pull creates collaboration, openness, and engagement.

When overused, it can slow decision-making and reduce direction.

Why Adaptability Matters in the Positive Power & Influence® Model

Effective leaders adapt their influence style based on:

  • the objective
  • the level of resistance
  • the relationship
  • the business context

This adaptability is one of the key capabilities developed through the Positive Power & Influence® Model.

Adaptability becomes easier when leaders understand how people think, make decisions, and respond to communication. Exploring the psychology of influence helps professionals adjust their approach more effectively.

The Four Influence Behaviors of the Positive Power & Influence® Model

The Positive Power & Influence® Model is built around four influence behaviors: Asserting, Persuading, Bridging, and Attracting.

Together, these behaviors help individuals understand how influence works and how to balance results and relationships more effectively.

Asserting

Asserting focuses on expressing expectations, communicating opinions, and providing clear direction. Within the Positive Power & Influence® Model, asserting helps create clarity and accountability.

Persuading

Persuading involves using logic, evidence, and structured arguments to influence opinions and decisions. This behavior helps individuals gain support for ideas and initiatives.

Bridging

Bridging focuses on building understanding, strengthening relationships, and identifying common ground between people and groups.

Attracting

Attracting inspires others through vision, authenticity, and enthusiasm. It helps create commitment and engagement around shared objectives.

Applications of the Positive Power & Influence® Model

The Positive Power & Influence® Model can be applied across a wide range of workplace situations, including:

  • Team communication
  • Conflict situations
  • Stakeholder conversations
  • Decisions-making discussions
  • Change initiatives
  • Cross-functional collaboration
  • Leadership conversations

Many organizations use the model to strengthen stakeholder influence, improve alignment, and gain commitment across projects, initiatives, and organizational change efforts.

Organizations also apply the model through Influence Skills Training, Executive Influence Development, Stakeholder Influence Programs, and Influence Without Authority Training to build stronger collaboration, increase leadership effectiveness, and achieve better organizational outcomes.

Apply the Positive Power & Influence® Model

The Positive Power & Influence® Model provides a practical framework for understanding how influence behaviors affect communication, relationships, stakeholder alignment, and business results.
By developing the ability to balance Push and Pull behaviors, professionals can become more adaptable, intentional, and effective in a wide range of workplace situations.
One of the model’s most valuable outcomes is the ability to create alignment across teams, functions, and stakeholders so that people move toward shared objectives with greater commitment and collaboration.
Organizations use these principles through Influence Skills Training, Influence Without Authority Training, and Stakeholder Influence initiatives to strengthen leadership effectiveness, improve buy-in, and achieve better organizational outcomes.

Related Influence Development Programs

Explore the programs that use the Positive Power & Influence® Model to help leaders gain buy-in, align stakeholders, and drive action across organizations.

Influence Skills Training Influence Without Authority Training

Frequently Asked Questions About the Positive Power & Influence® Model

The Positive Power & Influence® Model is an influence framework that helps individuals achieve results while maintaining positive working relationships.

Push and Pull are the two core approaches of the Positive Power & Influence® Model. Push includes Asserting and Persuading behaviors, while Pull includes Bridging and Attracting behaviors.

Push focuses on direction and advocacy, while Pull focuses on collaboration and understanding.

The four influence behaviors are Asserting, Persuading, Bridging, and Attracting. Together they provide a practical framework for balancing results and relationships in workplace interactions.

The Positive Power & Influence® Model serves as the foundation for many Influence Skills Training programs. It helps leaders, managers, and professionals understand how influence works in modern organizations and provides practical tools for gaining commitment, building credibility, aligning stakeholders, and achieving results without relying solely on formal authority.

How the Positive Power & Influence® Program Works in Practice

The Positive Power & Influence® Model provides the framework — here’s how it comes to life in a real Aprenda Group program.

  • FORMAT: The Positive Power & Influence® Program is delivered as an interactive, facilitator-led experience combining short lecture segments, role-plays, case studies, and small-group exercises. Participants spend most of the program applying the model to real workplace situations rather than sitting through theory alone. Available in in-person, virtual instructor-led, and blended formats to fit your organization’s needs.
  • DURATION: The standard program runs over 2-5 days / 15 hours, with options to customize the length and depth based on your organization’s objectives and group size.
  • PRE-PROGRAM ASSESSMENT: Before the program begins, participants complete a 360-degree feedback assessment that identifies their current influence style and highlights specific opportunities for growth. This data is used throughout the program to give each participant personalized, actionable feedback rather than generic advice.
  • GROUP SIZE: Programs are designed for groups of 8 to 16 participants, small enough to allow individual coaching and feedback, large enough to create rich peer learning through role-plays and group exercises.
  • APPLICATION AND FOLLOW-THROUGH: Learning doesn’t stop when the session ends. Participants leave with a personal action plan connecting the Push and Pull behaviors to a real influence challenge they’re facing at work, and describe any follow-up coaching, check-ins, or reinforcement materials you offer.

Many professionals apply these concepts when influencing without authority, particularly in matrix organizations where collaboration and stakeholder commitment are critical for success.

positive power influence training workshop

How to Get Started

Getting your team started with the Positive Power & Influence® Program takes three steps:

  1. Schedule a conversation with an Aprenda Group expert to discuss your organization’s goals and challenges.
  2. Receive a tailored proposal outlining format, timeline, and group size for your organization.
  3. Launch the program with pre-work, the live session, and post-program application support.

Trusted by organizations worldwide to apply the Positive Power & Influence® Program.