The NCO Guide TC 7-22.7 Practice Test

Influencing is about shaping how others think and act by using your power effectively. It means guiding, persuading, and motivating people to choose actions that align with a goal, often through credible communication, trust, and the strategic use of rewards and sanctions. That’s why the best answer is the application of power—it's about actively deploying power to influence behavior. Simply having authority isn’t enough to influence, and making a decision unilaterally bypasses the influence process. Coercion relies on threats or force, which is not how constructive influence works.