passion - Patti Cotton

Three Things a Leader Needs to Get the Mojo Back — Image Credit: Shutterstock

Leading is challenging.

But it should also be energizing and exciting.

If you as leader have lost the drive you used to feel, take heart – there are three things you need to focus on in order to get back on top of your game.

In fact, if your actions don’t inspire, motivate, and empower, it is time to regroup.

Inspire

When your employees are inspired, great things happen. People follow inspiration. As you inspire, your workforce feels a sense of belonging and commitment, and they become more engaged and productive.

And, lest you think you must be charismatic in order to be inspirational, take heart. In a recent employee poll, traits such as humility, empathy, openness, and high regard for others were named among the 33 traits identified as being inspirational (Eric Garton – “How to Be an Inspiring Leader,” Harvard Business Review, April 2017 ).

Motivate

When you bring passion and positive energy to your workforce, you spread an infectious attitude that supports high morale and keeps stress at lower levels.

Incentivizing your employees to do their very best goes far beyond offering higher wages. Find out what motivates your executive team members (hint: each will have something different to share). Things like feeling a part of the company’s success, learning to move a career ahead, personal development to step into higher personal leadership, receiving acknowledgement and recognition in a certain way – these are just a few examples of what really motivates people.

Do this – and teach your team to do likewise with their own teams. You’ll create an incredibly motivated workforce and a higher level of retention.

Empower

Demonstrate trust. Clarify the ends instead of the means, provide them with any non-negotiable parameters, and then let them spread their wings.

Explore where you can delegate, outline your expectations as far as results, and simply be on hand for questions.

Don’t know where to start? Ask them. What projects or responsibilities might they like to assume in order to flex their leadership skills?

And here’s a question I use with my clients to help them think outside the box: If you decided to take a six-month sabbatical, what would you need to delegate in order to feel that the company could move ahead as per usual?

If you will work on these three areas, you will find that you have not only reanimated your workforce, you will also recapture your own drive and commitment to lead. A win-win.

HOW MUCH

DO OTHERS REALLY TRUST YOU?

Learn the two vital parts to trust and how they can help you become a more highly effective leader.

GET THE INFOGRAPHIC

Patti Cotton

Patti Cotton reenergizes talented leaders and their teams to achieve fulfillment and extraordinary results. For more information on how Patti Cotton can help you and your organization, click here.

Asking for a Favor Can be a Powerful Tool — Image Credit: Shutterstock

Do you hesitate to ask for a favor when you know you already need a bigger one from that same person?

You’d be surprised that this is indeed the best time to ask!

And it’s especially helpful as you seek to influence that person toward a larger, more important goal.

Does that feel counter-intuitive? Many say it does.

Yet, Benjamin Franklin proved that when you ask someone for a favor, this person will be actually more predisposed to do another one for you!

To quote Mr. Franklin, “He that has once done you a kindness will be more ready to do you another, than he whom you yourself have obliged.’’

And he proved this by successfully testing out the theory to earn favor among high-ranking members of Philadelphia’s General Assembly.

Specifically, the story is told that while Franklin was running for reappointment as Clerk of the Assembly, a new, influential member ardently argued for a different candidate. Franklin saw this passion and wanted it for his own advocacy, instead.

So when he learned that this new member had a rare book collection, Franklin approached him and asked to borrow one of the most valuable books. The member agreed, Franklin quickly read the book and returned it.

The next time the two gentlemen met, the new member initiated a conversation with Franklin and offered his help on anything Franklin might need in the future. Guess what Franklin asked of him? You guessed it. And he got it. The new member not only advocated for Franklin, but they developed a influential relationship from there that lasted until the second gentleman’s death.

In social psychology, we now call this the “Ben Franklin Effect.” It’s a powerful tool to develop supportive relationships and to curry influence.

In the workforce, we see the Ben Franklin Effect work successfully in many situations.

First, if you are seeking a position, asking for an informational interview to learn more about the field, asking questions about trends in the industry, or seeking other advice usually results in the other person wanting to help you find a job.

In sales, you may want to ask the potential client about where they think the market is headed, or what product benefits they find most powerful or valuable.

And certainly, Frank could have used this with John (see the first article of this series where Frank blows the entire multi-million dollar deal with John because of his poor approach – click here).

With whom do you need more influence at this time? What favor can you ask of them in order to develop a closer, more fruitful relationship that can serve you both in future?

What impact are you having in life and business?
Click below to take the complimentary Impact Assessment.

http://inspireinfluenceimpactquiz.com/

Patti Cotton

Patti Cotton reenergizes talented leaders and their teams to achieve fulfillment and extraordinary results. For more information on how Patti Cotton can help you and your organization, click here.