Relationships between colleagues are not always pretty.
This article is an excerpt from our BizTV video, which can be viewed online, simply by clicking this link.
The way you get something done is often more important than what you get done.
The hard way is the bulldozer – straight on, most likely with a little figurative violence. The easier way is with the tractor, bringing people along to see your point of view. My husband always reminds me, “Be a tractor, not a bull dozer today”!
Influence is about action – getting things done through negotiation with colleagues.
Which are you? A bulldozer or a tractor? As a reformed tractor myself I would like to share some tips to get action through influence:
- Observe what is going on around you. Act in a manner that benefits everyone and is aligned with your organization’s values, expectations and practices.
- Know how your actions make other people feel. Do you repel people or compel people to work with you?
- Understand what is important to others. Otherwise you bulldoze towards one-sided outcomes
- Share what you are trying to accomplish then frame the discussion by linking your points to something important to the other person.
- Be open to new ideas and other opinions without being defensive. Listen to others patiently. Check for understanding. Don’t assume.
- Look for ways to meet others’ needs through partnership with colleagues. Incorporate the other person’s ideas into the ultimate solution. Give the other person credit. After all it was a joint effort.
Getting results through influence is not about you. It is about building long-lasting partnerships with colleagues to deliver results. We are all stronger when we collaborate over solutions.