Good morning everyone,
I hope you are still following along from the first few steps to building influence and that those that we are working on influence buy off on us.
Let’s review the steps:
C.I.A – stands for being curious, intentional, and asking questions.
Developing questions to pull out the needs from those we are building influence with
Today we are going to SEE if we are on the right track to building influence.
We want to make sure that what we believe the needs are resonate with those around us. If we are trying to gain influence with direct reports based off organizational title to keep the team following our lead we will fail. We don’t simply want to use a title as leverage to make people do what we want. We want them going the extra distance and having our back and eagerly wanting to learn and grow under us.
If they chose to leave at some point better than they were when they were under our influence that is something I can live with. Don’t be afraid if you are raising up leaders that are influencing others and doing good. That is better than keeping people under you that do nothing to grow and just push the ball so they can collect their paycheck and go home.
Set up a meeting or a time to review with those that we are working on influence with. Don’t do a drive buy ambush to validate you understand their needs. Let them know that you value their time and respect. Look at their calendars and set up a meeting with the purpose in the title or go one step further and walk up to them asking for a good time to meet. I know some introverts will say, but I don’t like engaging people…stop whining and grow yourself by stepping out of your comfort zone. I am an introvert by nature, and I speak to groups of people because I took small steps each day to grow.
Show them respect and they will typically respect you as well to be prepared for the meeting. You can also give them a few details you would like to review so they have time to prepare for the discussion.
Be Engaged. Turn off emails, close doors, and pay attention. Be engaging with this meeting as best you can. Ask them questions to pull out their needs as you have drafted from last week’s blog. Let them do most of the talking like a 70/30 ratio with you mainly asking questions and them answering. Find out deeper needs than just a paycheck and insurance benefits. Find their why they are doing what they are doing.
Encourage those that you are working on influence to come to you with questions, help, ideas for their growth, and to keep an open dialogue. Let them know you truly care by encouraging them. You don’t need to have parties for them but showing them that you care and encouraging them to take steps for growth and reaching out will help you gain influence.
Now if they have needs that you have not already identified from your prep work, then this is your homework to review and make sure that you can answer those needs. It is better to know that you are not meeting needs now so that you can either work on being able to meet those needs, or help those that report to you find somewhere in your organization, or another organization that will allow them to find their place best suited for them. Keeping someone that limits them is not a long-term play.
Helping those that you are influencing know that you care will build a great foundation to help you in the future.
Sincerely,
Kevin Sidebottom
Sales and Leadership Enterprises