John Maxwell is a master
communicator both on-stage and in his writings. I recently heard him say that
the success of his books (and he has sold millions of them!) is based upon
gathering his information but then focusing on IMPACT! This got me
thinking out loud about how we as leaders can use that simple formula to
motivate others!
Often when we are
attempting to motivate or influence others, we rely often on our data, reasoned
arguments, well researched content, etc. The problem is that we often stop
there. I believe the best leaders use good data but they attach that to even
better CAUSES. As Simon Sinek of YouTube fame proposes the WHY (or CAUSE) is
always more powerful than the WHAT. Stated another way, effective leaders
stress WHY something is important. WHY efforts are worthy of both our time and
best efforts. WHY it matters!
Whereas not an exhaustive
list, here are some strategies that help propel you from simple information to
impact:
Tell Stories – stories are critical – I was listening to the Wharton
School Radio (totally geeking out on that channel these days!) on SiriusXM. One
of their guests was stressing the importance of telling stories of great
customer service and the positive impact it had on improving his business. It created
an atmosphere of friendly competition where his staff wanted to share their
stories. Stories paint word pictures of the CAUSES that are most important to
you!
Keep It Interesting – Author and speaker Omar
Periu shared, “until you make it interesting, you are just someone’s
interruption!” Find new and different ways to communicating content. Maybe
simple signs instead of PPT. Bring in guests or clients to share what is
important to them. Remember that people learn best in their own ways. Some are
visual, some are auditory, some are tactile, and some need time to reflect. Mix
you media and methods to motivate others.
BE Sincere – are you truly passionate about your CAUSE? Share what
is most important to you. Talk more
about what you are for versus what you are against. People
(especially the millennials now in the workplace) like to feel they are part of
something big and meaningful – give that to them!
Call to Action – Finally, as John Maxwell shares, it is
important to always let others know what you want them to KNOW and what you
want them to DO! A clear call to action helps generate focus that leads to the results
you are looking for.
As
always if I can help you and
the people you associate with Get Better, Be Ready and LEAD OUT LOUD, I would
invite you to email me or to visit my website below and see if any of the
training or coaching experiences I offer can provide an impact! Also, as a
bonus, if you go to my Out Loud Strategies website (www.outloudinc.com) and enter your
contact information, I will send you a FREE guide to establishing a mentoring
initiative program in your organization! Such an initiative would be critical
in order to add value to your organization!
Yours in Leadership,
Bill Faulkner
Principal Consultant –
Out Loud Strategies
Independent Coach,
Speaker, and Trainer with the John Maxwell Team TM
Email = bill@outloudinc.com
Visit our website
at: www.outloudinc.com
Feel free to “LIKE” our
FB Page www.facebook.com/outloudinc
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