It’s hard to persuade someone to think or do something they are not inclined to do. People often don’t have the need-to, want-to, can-do or will-do attitude to change. Whether or not we’re successful in the attempt usually comes down to a single important decision we make about how we will go about persuading the
Browsing tag: influence
Last week, I watched a leader do the tango, cha-cha, two-step, waltz and breakdance in front of his people. No, he wasn’t literally dancing, but seeing how he inspired, motivated and got buy-in from his team, I was struck by how his flexibility and performance were no less extraordinary than an artist’s at peak form.
Leadership, at its core, is about influencing others: It’s about inspiring people to take your cue, get on board and move towards a desired outcome. How do you, personally, get people to buy, agree, support or listen? While there are certain qualities that all great leaders share, the way they go about influencing others can
1760s to 1890s: Success = Who You Are and What You Do I met a man last fall who left Minneapolis to become a shopkeeper in Colonial Williamsburg, VA. He moved, he said, because, “they would throw a net over my head if I dressed in Colonial garb in Minneapolis.” He was attracted to the
Leadership is the ability to motivate others to risk, sacrifice and engage. It’s not necessarily a job title or position—there are times when you will have to lead but you won’t have the power structure that generates leverage. So what can you do to influence others in these situations? One strategy is to frame a
People often want more responsibility and a bigger title. Whether it’s at a full-time job or on a volunteer board, leaders are wired to pursue greater influence. Increasing responsibility and influence is a way for us to be more valuable. One challenge with positioning ourselves for more responsibility is being promotable without being self-promotional. And