Influence Analysis
About the Influencer Analysis
Identifying the people who can promote, shape, and positively influence change within an organisation is one of the most powerful steps a Change Manager can take.
The Influencer Analysis (also referred to as an Influencer Commitment Analysis) is designed to identify key individuals and networks who can accelerate transformation, build momentum, and sustain engagement throughout the change journey.
Beyond identifying advocates, this process also uncovers potential resistors or problem areas that could undermine progress if left unmanaged.
The analysis can be conducted during the High-Level Stakeholder Analysis, the Change Impact Assessment, or as part of the Detailed Stakeholder Analysis.
Why Influencer Analysis Matters
Influencers are the key to mobilising real change. They hold trust, credibility, and informal authority that formal leadership often cannot replicate.
These individuals can be found at any level of the organisation — from senior leaders to project team members to frontline employees.
Influencers play a pivotal role because they:
- Shape the conversation around the change initiative.
- Spread positive messages and build belief across the workforce.
- Win the trust of sceptical employees.
- Act as change agents, modelling the new ways of working.
Their contribution is invaluable: they are the bridge between leadership intent and employee adoption. When empowered and supported, influencers can transform an ordinary rollout into a genuine culture shift.
When to Conduct an Influencer Analysis
It’s important to build time and effort into your change planning to identify and engage influencers early.
The analysis is typically performed once the scope, objectives, and benefits of the change are defined and the Change Team is ready to engage with stakeholders.
For larger organisations, data from HR systems or resource capability frameworks can help identify key individuals.
In smaller organisations, this process may rely on manual discovery — conversations, workshops, and observations — to find those informal leaders who hold real influence.
Prerequisites
Before starting, ensure:
- The Change Team is aligned and ready to conduct the analysis.
- Resource data and competency assessments (if available) have been pre-reviewed.
- Key stakeholders and project leaders understand the purpose of the activity.
- A brainstorming or workshop session is scheduled to identify potential influencers across departments.
Steps to Complete an Influencer Analysis
- Map Organisational Networks
Begin by identifying employees and teams who can accelerate organisational alignment.
Look beyond job titles — consider who others go to for advice, problem-solving, or validation.
- Identify Hidden Influencers
Hidden influencers are often overlooked yet highly valuable. These individuals may not hold formal power but are respected by peers.
Example: members of the project team who champion new processes or systems, or long-serving employees whose opinions carry weight.
- Plot and Assess Influence
Use an Influencer Analysis Chart or Influence Map to visualise:
- The level of influence (low to high).
- The level of commitment (resistant to supportive).
This helps you categorise influencers as Champions, Bystanders, or Resistors and prioritise engagement accordingly.
- Engage and Empower
Once influencers are identified:
- Communicate the purpose and benefits of their involvement.
- Provide them with knowledge, tools, and talking points to help them advocate effectively.
- Involve them in pilot programs or communications to amplify their voice and reach.
- Monitor and Refine
Track influencer engagement throughout the change journey.
Regularly review how effectively they’re shaping sentiment and adjust your strategy as needed.
Influencer Engagement Best Practices
- Empower early adopters: Give them visibility and recognition.
- Listen to feedback: Influencers often surface genuine employee concerns early.
- Balance perspectives: Identify both positive and negative influencers to understand the full picture.
- Integrate into governance: Include influencer feedback in decision-making discussions.
Example Outcomes from an Influencer Analysis
- Accelerated adoption: Influencers can promote change far faster than top-down communications.
- Increased trust: Employees are more likely to believe peers than formal leadership messages.
- Early issue detection: Influencers can alert the change team to brewing resistance.
- Sustained engagement: Ongoing influencer involvement reinforces cultural alignment long after go-live.
Next Steps
Download the Influencer Analysis Template from the X4MIS Knowledge Base:
Compose > Tools > Influencer Analysis
Use the template to:
- Map and prioritise your influencer network.
- Identify engagement strategies for each influencer group.
- Integrate influencer activities into your broader stakeholder engagement plan.
Remember — every division in an organisation has a role to play in a change initiative.
While suppliers and customers may play a limited role in most projects, internal influencers are your most powerful allies in ensuring change is embraced and sustained.
