A leader's audit on personal influence.
When you think of a true leader, who stands out in your mind? Why is that?
Wednesday, April 30, 2008
There is a Fine Line Between Pressure and Pain!
Pressure has the potential to start you up and close you down!
Pressure is an essential ingredient in getting you engaged, focused and in action. Without it enthusiasm and motivation can easily wane. In my experience the upside of pressure is easily overlooked in a world where the negativities of pressure are topical.
Pressure is not good or bad it just is. It is your response to pressure that counts. This affects your ability to use your talent and influence to rise above challenge, make appropriate decisions and influence others through the resultant implementation of those decisions.
As I write this I am considering you reading this in a normal frame of mind on a “business as usual” day. Therefore as you sit and read this you most likely agree so far and feel you respond well to pressure. I wonder if you would have the same response if you were feeling pressure now, since Leading when the pressure is on may seem easy in theory before or after the fact? Try this…
Imagine a continuum of pressure, get a pen and paper and draw this as a straight line from left to right. Consider carefully and subjectively plot the points at which you:
Emotionally Resilient people rise to the top regardless of the situation. They make rational decisions in emotional situations. This is key to Leading when the pressure is on.
Practical strategies integrated with personal management systems provide a compass in the densest situations. All you need is a strong motivation to positively enhance your skills and to call me!
What question would you like to ask me about Leading when the pressure is on? Click here to ask a question (name and email address are optional - if you include them I will provide a personal response).
Until next time, be emotionally resilient, play with pressure, and enjoy life in business!
Pressure is an essential ingredient in getting you engaged, focused and in action. Without it enthusiasm and motivation can easily wane. In my experience the upside of pressure is easily overlooked in a world where the negativities of pressure are topical.
Pressure is not good or bad it just is. It is your response to pressure that counts. This affects your ability to use your talent and influence to rise above challenge, make appropriate decisions and influence others through the resultant implementation of those decisions.
As I write this I am considering you reading this in a normal frame of mind on a “business as usual” day. Therefore as you sit and read this you most likely agree so far and feel you respond well to pressure. I wonder if you would have the same response if you were feeling pressure now, since Leading when the pressure is on may seem easy in theory before or after the fact? Try this…
Imagine a continuum of pressure, get a pen and paper and draw this as a straight line from left to right. Consider carefully and subjectively plot the points at which you:
- Get fired up
- Keep focused
- Trigger emotionally driven frustration
- Tip into overwhelm
- What do your positive pressure points allow you to do?
- How do they assist you to positively influence?
- What can you now do better from becoming aware of this?
- What are the negative behaviour patterns that result from the negative pressure points?
- What is this costing you in time, energy, influence?
- How would addressing that allow you to improve your bottom line result?
- How aware are you of the pressure points of those you Lead and actively influence?
Emotionally Resilient people rise to the top regardless of the situation. They make rational decisions in emotional situations. This is key to Leading when the pressure is on.
Practical strategies integrated with personal management systems provide a compass in the densest situations. All you need is a strong motivation to positively enhance your skills and to call me!
What question would you like to ask me about Leading when the pressure is on? Click here to ask a question (name and email address are optional - if you include them I will provide a personal response).
Until next time, be emotionally resilient, play with pressure, and enjoy life in business!
Tuesday, April 15, 2008
Influence is not a digital technology it is an analogue art form!
When it comes to influence you are always on, it is just a matter whether the tone, volume and content you are using resonates well with people.
In my experience, most people only think of influencing as something you do with intention… However, it is how you influence when you just do what you do that determines how effective you are when influencing with intention.
People who influence others to action are Leaders by the nature of the action their behaviour inspires.
Think now of someone who inspires you to action. This may be someone you know well or someone on the world stage. Note the reasons you admire them then consider the observable behaviour that led you to believe in them. This person may not necessarily have the title “Leader” in their resume it may have been bestowed on them by others.
Often those who find themselves with “Leader” as a title may be uncomfortable with the idea, associating the title with superiority and standing out. However, Leadership is not about being a Hollywood star it is about being a North Star, being a compass for others on the same journey. A compass is effective in any conditions, under pressure, in poor light or in a raging storm. Like a positively influential Leader it can be relied upon to give true and consistent direction.
It is only possible to enhance your influence by first identifying how you influence.
Consider these questions:
Remember, your influence is constantly on; it is just a matter a degrees toward the positive or negative.
Check the “Solutions for Leaders and Leadership Teams” diagnostic on my new home page. You can easily find potential problems and solutions that I can help you with by clicking on one of the three focus areas.
In my experience, most people only think of influencing as something you do with intention… However, it is how you influence when you just do what you do that determines how effective you are when influencing with intention.
People who influence others to action are Leaders by the nature of the action their behaviour inspires.
Think now of someone who inspires you to action. This may be someone you know well or someone on the world stage. Note the reasons you admire them then consider the observable behaviour that led you to believe in them. This person may not necessarily have the title “Leader” in their resume it may have been bestowed on them by others.
Often those who find themselves with “Leader” as a title may be uncomfortable with the idea, associating the title with superiority and standing out. However, Leadership is not about being a Hollywood star it is about being a North Star, being a compass for others on the same journey. A compass is effective in any conditions, under pressure, in poor light or in a raging storm. Like a positively influential Leader it can be relied upon to give true and consistent direction.
It is only possible to enhance your influence by first identifying how you influence.
Consider these questions:
- Where is your influence having the positive effect you desire and how do you know?
- Where is your influence falling short and how do you know?
- What do you observe others doing or not doing as a result of your influence
- How is your influence benefiting others, helping you achieve your objectives and the objectives of the organisation?
Remember, your influence is constantly on; it is just a matter a degrees toward the positive or negative.
Check the “Solutions for Leaders and Leadership Teams” diagnostic on my new home page. You can easily find potential problems and solutions that I can help you with by clicking on one of the three focus areas.
- Individual Decision-Making
- Influence For Leaders
- Facilitated Group Decision-Making
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