Means to create influence by making son leader (4)
I believe the answer is:
ways
'means' is the definition.
(I know this)
'influence by making son leader' is the wordplay.
I cannot really see how this works, but
'son' could be 's' (genealogical abbreviation for son) and 's' is located in the answer.
The remaining letters 'way' is a valid word which might be clued in a way I don't see.
This may be the basis of the clue (or it may be nonsense).
'to create' is the link.
(Other definitions for ways that I've seen before include "Methods; routes" , "Customs" , "Characteristic features of behaviour" , "Roads; styles" , "Manners" .)