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Name of author Rick Baker, P.Eng.

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Thought Tweet #909

by Rick Baker
On Jan 9, 2014

Thought Tweet #909 An interview or performance review question: How do you go about expanding your ability to influence people?

 

The Thinking Behind The Tweet

The Gallup folks have defined 4 Talent Domains for leadership: Executing, Influencing, Relationship Building, & Strategic Thinking.

When we look at local leaders' Talent Themes we notice a lack of Influencing Talent Themes. A lack of Influencing talent & strength is widespread throughout businesses in our geography.

Understanding that, we need to help leaders improve their ability to Influence others.

A good starting point is understanding whether or not they understand the importance of Influence...and are taking steps to improve in the area of Influencing.

A good next step is providing Influencing-help in the form of specialized knowledge, situations/opportunities, and time to practice skills.

Seek First To Understand People Who Do Not Understand Themselves

by Rick Baker
On Dec 30, 2013

Yes, Covey taught Seek First To Understand.

Good advice!

But, as you follow that advice, do not be confused. In general, people do not understand themselves. Well, they sort of understand themselves...but they really do not understand themselves. The have vague notions about their goals, their deepest desires, their talents & strengths, and many other fundamentally-important things.

You don't agree...

OK.

Prove it.

Prove you understand yourself...

  • State your definite purpose in life...your vivid vision
  • State your personal values
  • State the unique value proposition you bring to the workplace
  • State the things you will do that other people will not do
  • State what "Integrity" means to you and how you illustrate it
  • State how you go about "Influencing" people
  • State how you go about building a trusting relationship
  • State the things people can rely on you to do 100% of the time
These are just some of the areas where people show others, day after day, they have only a vague understanding of themselves.
 
Why?
 
Why do people only have a vague understanding of themselves?
 
Here are a few of the main reasons:
  • Most people think things like, "I don't have time" and "I'm too busy". Even worse, they say these things out loud and share them with other people. With these thoughts and words they proclaim their limitations to the world and they brainwash themselves into hectic lives...lives far too hectic for introspection and self-knowledge.
  • Most people have not been taught how to understand themselves. When in school, most people studied math, language, science, history, etc. Most people did not study the mechanisms of self-monitoring, self-analysis, self-knowledge, etc. 
  • Many, if not most, people choose mind-numbing entertainment over thinking

Yes - Seek First To Understand.

And, start with self.

Thought Tweet #896

by Rick Baker
On Dec 23, 2013

Thought Tweet #896 Habits come in two flavours: green for Good and red for Bad. When you Influence others, don't make them see red.

 

The Thinking Behind The Tweet

There are only 2 ways to Influence others: (1) doing Habits & (2) doing New Things. Why not show your good habits and, at least once in a while, try some new things? 

Tags:

Habits: Good Habits, Bad Habits, & New Things | Influencing | Thought Tweets

Thought Tweet #879

by Rick Baker
On Nov 28, 2013

Thought Tweet #879 The greatest of leaders change themselves. They mould their character to improve their ability to influence others.

 

The Thinking Behind The Tweet

Sometimes they replace combative ways with kindness; sometimes they replace softer ways with assertiveness.

Other times they improve their voice, vocabulary, and body language to improve their communication style...adding clarity and power to it.

Great leaders are attuned to their habits, both the good ones and the bad ones. They choose to replace their bad habits with new things - good habits, habits proven to deliver positive results.

Beyond everything else, the greatest leaders are masters of self-awareness and self-control.

And they know leadership is an ongoing series of thought-and-action choices. So they define thought-and-action boundaries for themselves and they work continuously at living within those thought-and-action boundaries.

Thought Tweet #877

by Rick Baker
On Nov 26, 2013

Thought Tweet #877 Our success in this world of other people increases when we develop abilities to observe people & understand them.


The Thinking Behind The Tweet

The challenge is sometimes we are so self-consumed by aches and pains and daily stresses and strains we are oblivious to other people. 

Tags:

Influencing | Thought Tweets

Thought Tweet #874

by Rick Baker
On Nov 21, 2013

Thought Tweet #874 So you have a mind like a steel trap do you…then you will know intelligent life forms choose to avoid traps.


The Thinking Behind The Tweet

Illustrations of mental prowess can put people off....especially when performed by braggarts and wiseacres.

 

Tags:

Attitude: Creating Positive Attitude | Humour | Influencing | Thought Tweets

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