How To Work And Win With People: 5 Things That Matter The Most

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Personal Development, Leading & Managing Section | 4

How To Work And Win With People: 5 Things That Matter The Most

By Alla Adam | Forbes Magazine | May 21, 2024

Extractive Summary of the Article | Listen

The author worked with a client for 15 years.  Nevertheless, last year was most daunting when his client went through some medial problems at the same time she was trying to detach herself from the matra “Great work,” she used to say, “is done by great people working alone.”  According to her all this would not have been possible without those insights the author and his client uncovered during their first year of coaching.

1. Banish “that’s how it’s always been done” from your business vocabulary.  Change is at the core of innovation. And, unless you are talking about the Earth that is actually round, the references to the past can work against you. Instead, ask people’s opinions and see what they think. Every person has a different perspective on the world, and this is great; mine their ideas for good, use them as leverage and don’t let them be buried under the ashes of the past.
2. Communicate your ‘why’ and ask for their ‘why.’  Being in the know about each other’s “why” is practical. It is also motivating. It can remove uncertainty, false expectations, frustration and anxiety from the room. It’s okay for you to be demanding and OK for your team to be so, too. Coach your team to back their demands with data; this helps to build a culture of accountability and effectiveness, where strategic rebellion becomes a catalyst for positive change rather than resistance.
3. Show people a path forward for their future.  More often than you’d think, people have defeatist, pessimistic attitudes. When “hopeless” is a mindset, there’s no room for change, but when “hopeless” is a suppressed rage, you, as a leader, can help people see the future more clearly by being proactive, being a partner who helps them shape the life they want to have. And not just professionally but personally, too.
4. Provide people autonomy.  Let people call the shots and take charge of their tasks. When they control their work, they unleash creativity and drive like never before. As a leader, you must inspire people to have skin in the game, not just bluntly delegate. People then become deeply invested in the outcome. Which, in turn, ignites their further passion and commitment. With autonomy, of course, comes responsibility, and with responsibility comes unparalleled dedication and loyalty. And this is precisely what you want to cultivate as a leader.
5. Be authentic with people.  It’s easy to be fake when so many things around you are fake—fake smiles, fake gratitude, fake best wishes, and, more often than not, fake success. But it’s okay to stand out, especially if authenticity is the price you must pay.   Authenticity is magnetic—it attracts true connections and genuine opportunities. Don’t make people look at everything you do and say and figure out if it’s real. When you say you’ll do something, do it. When the forecasted numbers are not achieved, and the first results of the new product launch turn out to be rather disappointing, be direct and truthful about the why and the consequences. If you are being fake, your credibility will melt like an ice cube on a grill once they see through it. And at that point, they’ll either bid farewell or lose all drive to excel.

One key takeaways from the article

1. “Great work is done by great people working alone” limit our potential as a leader.  The following insights can help to get out of this limiting attitude:  banish “that’s how it’s always been done” from your business vocabulary, Communicate your ‘why’ and ask for others’ ‘why’, show people a path forward for their future, Provide people autonomy, and be authentic with people.

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Topics:  Creativity, Teams, Accountability, Empowerment