May 15, 2024 No One Listening? 5 Techniques to Be More Persuasive
A version of this blog post was first published in November, 2019.
Do you have trouble getting what you want? Are you often overlooked or not listened to? Do you know a change needs to be made, but you’re having trouble framing your argument?
It sounds like you need to tap into the power of persuasion!
Being persuasive doesn’t necessarily mean you’re being sneaky or underhanded. If you use persuasion in an honest way, it means articulating something so others can see your point of view. Sometimes, you have to be persuasive to make positive changes or advance your career.
How do you become persuasive? Try a few of the following techniques:
1. Prepare
No matter if you’re leading a meeting, having a one-on-one with your boss, or proposing a new idea around the water cooler, it’s necessary to come prepared.
Do your homework, research the ins and outs of your proposal, AND anticipate potential problems or questions others may ask. If you know your stuff, you’ll automatically be more persuasive.
2. Be Confident
When you’re speaking, don’t use words like “I believe” or “I suppose.” Be confident when making a claim. Say it boldly, and people will listen.
Research shows people are more likely to listen to someone who is confident than someone who is an actual expert. Of course, you don’t want to spread false information, but when you do have something to say, say it with confidence!
3. Frame Your Words Carefully
Consider these two sentences, and tell me which is more effective:
“I’d like to be considered for the management position because I’m interested in furthering my career.”
“I’d like to be considered for the management position because I’m interested in new opportunities and challenges.”
The second one, right? These sentences both convey that someone is wishing to be considered for a promotion. Yet the second sentence focuses on personal growth and a desire to learn, while the first seems to say that the person, at the end of the day, is really only in it for themselves.
Before going into a meeting, practice your phrasing in front of a mirror until you feel comfortable delivering it.
4. Utilize Storytelling
Storytelling is a powerful technique for persuasion. People are naturally drawn to stories—by sharing anecdotes or personal experiences, you can make your points more relatable and memorable. Crafting a compelling narrative can help you connect with your audience on an emotional level, making your message more impactful and resonant. Consider weaving storytelling into your communication to effectively engage and persuade others.
5. Know Your Audience
Pay attention and start noticing what matters to people in your office. Do certain topics of conversation keep coming up? Are people interested in family, football, pets, or local music? What values do they seem to have?
Getting to know the people around you is invaluable for building rapport and gaining trust. Ultimately, if others find you easy to talk to and pleasant to be around, you won’t even have to think about being persuasive—people will want to listen to what you have to say.
If you want to make a change, put forth an idea, or simply be heard, it’s a good idea to hone your personal power of persuasion. It may not come easily at first, but with practice, you’ll be a pro!
MARGARET SMITH IS A CAREER COACH, AUTHOR, INSIGHTS® DISCOVERY (AND DEEPER DISCOVERY) LICENSED PRACTITIONER, AND FOUNDER OF UXL. SHE HOSTS WORKSHOPS FOR PEOPLE WHO NEED CAREER OR PERSONAL GUIDANCE.
CHECK OUT MARGARET’S ONLINE LEADERSHIP COURSE.
Tags: Be more persuasive, leadership and persuasive, margaret smith leadership, Margaret Smith licensed Insights practitioner, Persuasive arguments, persuasive at work
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- Posted under Communication, Leadership, Thrive at Work
May 8, 2024 6 Characteristics of a Problem Solver
A version of this blog post was published in July, 2019.
At times, problems will take care of themselves…but we certainly can’t count on that. In order to move the needle, put out “fires,” or add a little innovation to the workplace, it’s important to take charge of your destiny and be a problem solver.
Being a problem solver can be highly rewarding. Rather than either A) Sitting around and waiting for things to resolve themselves or B) Counting on others to solve your problems, it’s better to take a proactive approach. For one, the problems you’re facing may not resolve on their own. Or, they may not resolve themselves in the way you want. If you take “approach B” and let others solve problems for you, you lose crucial opportunities to learn and grow. Not to mention, your fate (or the fate of a project) will always be in others’ hands, beyond your control.
It is much better (and often more reliable) to be proactive and attempt to solve problems yourself. That doesn’t mean you have to go about problem solving on your own. The most adept problem solvers use whatever resources (human or otherwise) at their disposal.
Work on becoming a problem solver in your workplace! Focus on building the following six traits:
1. Be Courageous
Some risk may be involved in finding solutions to sub-optimal situations. You might have to speak up, contact your superiors, or tap into uncharted territory. Be courageous, knowing that you’ll be learning valuable skills, no matter the outcome.
2. Adapt
Not every solution is going to keep you squarely within your comfort zone. Be prepared to be flexible.
3. Innovate
Think outside the box! The best solutions may be paths you have not yet explored in your workplace. Look to other industries or unlikely sources for problem-solving inspiration.
4. Be Resourceful
Don’t be afraid to seek help. Online research, your HR department, co-workers, or your professional connections could be sources of advice or inspiration for you.
5. Build Unity
If a problem is affecting an entire department or group of people, it pays to rally the troops and get everyone working toward solving your mutual issue. You know what they say about several heads being better than one!
6. Be Vocal
Silence is the worst way to deal with a sticky issue. Refusing to address a problem with open communication will only suppress it or force people to talk about it in whispers.
Embrace your courageous, vocal, innovative, and adaptive sides! Rally the troops and use whatever resources are available to you. Be a proactive problem solver, and you’ll gain a better handle on your future. Not only that, you’ll also develop valuable skills along the way and likely gain recognition from your superiors as someone who is unafraid to face problems head-on.
MARGARET SMITH IS A CAREER COACH, AUTHOR, INSIGHTS® DISCOVERY (AND DEEPER DISCOVERY) LICENSED PRACTITIONER, AND FOUNDER OF UXL. SHE HOSTS WORKSHOPS FOR PEOPLE WHO NEED CAREER OR PERSONAL GUIDANCE.
CHECK OUT MARGARET’S ONLINE LEADERSHIP COURSE.
Tags: be a problem solver, better problem solving, margaret smith career coach, margaret smith leadership, problem solving leader, problem-solver traits
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- Posted under Advice from a Life Coach, Communication, Leadership
May 1, 2024 Your Leadership Might be Missing…A Color?
A version of this post was first published in September, 2018.
Every leader has their strengths. You might be an excellent idea-generator or public speaker. Maybe you’re great with details. Or, maybe your team considers you a trusted confidante. Whatever the case, it’s great to celebrate and emphasize your strengths…but it’s also a good idea to identify your areas of opportunity.
No leader is perfect. There is always room for growth. But how can you get started with self-improvement? Isn’t that a bit daunting?
It doesn’t have to be.
By assigning certain personality traits certain colors, it’s easy to identify the areas where you are lacking. That is precisely what the Insights® Discovery program does. According to the Insights® color model, each individual has the capability to embrace and utilize all four color energies, but we typically only emphasize one or two. In essence, the color system breaks down like this:
So what happens when, as a leader, you don’t tap into each color energy?
You may find that you’re not as well-rounded as you could be. For instance, if you lead with a lot of yellow energy, you may jump into projects feet first, without thinking through all the details. While this is great for motivation and could have positive effects on your team initially, the long-term effects may be disastrous if certain key factors were not taken into consideration (Oh…we needed to get permission from corporate before contacting that client…).
On the flip side, if you lead with a lot of blue energy, you may nit-pick the details to death and have trouble starting a project (let alone drumming up enthusiasm for it).
To examine this idea further, take a look at the following chart. Which areas in YOUR leadership need a boost? How could “Fiery Red” be useful at times? How could green? Yellow? Blue?
Coming from someone who typically leads with yellow energy, I know the importance of tapping into my “blue side.” If you usually embrace “Earth Green,” it may be important to tap into some “Red” qualities, such as taking decisive actions. How will you call upon your under-utilized colors today?
MARGARET SMITH IS A CAREER COACH, AUTHOR, INSIGHTS® DISCOVERY (AND DEEPER DISCOVERY) LICENSED PRACTITIONER, AND FOUNDER OF UXL. SHE HOSTS WORKSHOPS FOR PEOPLE WHO NEED CAREER OR PERSONAL GUIDANCE.
CHECK OUT MARGARET’S ONLINE LEADERSHIP COURSE.
Tags: Improving Leadership, Insights and Leadership, insights discovery leadership, leadership missing color, margaret smith career coach, margaret smith leadership
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- Posted under Insights Discovery, Leadership
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