Push, Pull, or Both? Rethinking Your Influence Style

TL;DR:

Influence isn’t about being louder or nicer. It’s about flexing between Push (facts, proposals) and Pull (questions, listening). Get good at both, and you’ll stop pushing uphill and start pulling people along.

How do you influence?

Not “influencer” influence (no ring lights required). I’m talking about how you get things done when you don’t have direct control—aka the life of most professionals.

Push vs. Pull

There are two main influence styles:

• Push = proposing, giving information, shutting down distractions. 
  Think: “Here’s the plan, here’s the data, here’s why it matters.” Works best when people want guidance, recognize your expertise, or just need a clear answer.

• Pull = asking questions, seeking understanding, building on ideas. 
  Think: “What matters most to you? What would success look like?” Works best when you don’t have authority, when the status quo is strong, or when you’re not sure what will land.

Most of us lean one way. I was surprised to learn I’m split almost evenly. Turns out, years of justifying why internal comms isn’t an "email monkey" has trained me to flex both.

👉 Curious where you land? You can take the same quick questionnaire here. 

Why It Matters for You

Push without Pull feels like bulldozing. Pull without Push feels like hand-holding. Influence that sticks usually blends both.

For example:

• Push—I’ve won budget arguments by laying out hard data on engagement tools.

• Pull—I’ve built leadership trust by asking questions that reveal what they actually want employees to know and do.

The magic (yes, I said it) is knowing when to switch gears.

Try This

Next time you need buy-in:

• Start with Pull—Ask two smart questions before offering your proposal.

• Layer in Push—back it up with a clear, concise case.

• Watch the balance shift in your favor.