INTRODUCTION
There are many theories and models to communication and motivation. This document focuses on Circles Of Influence and the approach and tools which can be used to overcome resistance to change.
PROBLEM
When it comes to the future, there are three kinds of people: those who let it happen, those who make it happen, and those who wonder what happened. How do you effect organisational change when so few are in the make it happen category? Or potentially more are in the stop it happening group!
APPROACH
There is a prayer Grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, the courage to change the things I can, and the wisdom to know the difference. In life, it is so easy to focus on our circle of concern –things that we cannot control. Proactive people, the other hand, keep their thoughts and actions within their circle of influence or the things they can control, and by doing so make a difference.
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The old adage its not what you know, but who you know is key to Circles Of Influence. Sometimes the best way to persuade Fred will be to ask Mary to talk to him, rather than to talk direct. Not because it isn’t better to talk face to face, but because trust is essential to communication and if Fred doesn’t know you, but does trust Mary then that may be the best route for dialogue. Recognising the key influencers and building a coalition with them can be key to communication and motivation.
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HAVE A MAP OR A PLAN
A map of all your stakeholders, who knows who, and their level of interest and influence will give you have a clear picture of communication and motivation. This provides a good base from which to plan your actions.
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Success in managing change is not to turn everyone into evangelists but to move people one step along until you reach tipping point. When you have reached the tipping point then you have momentum and change can happen quite quickly. It is important to identify the key people who will bring their followers and tip the balance: Politicians do this all the time by focusing on key marginal groups or topics which they believe will swing consensus in their favour.
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NEXT STEPS
Eight Ways to Expand Your Circle of Influence…
1. Don’t ask why, ask how – ask yourself the right questions in order to expand your circle of influence. How can I turn this situation around? How can I improve my relationships? How can I help and inspire the people around me?
2. Believe, Achieve, Succeed - Believe in yourself even in the face of naysayers. In order to expand your circle the influence, you’ll have to be bulletproof to criticism. Most criticism is intended to hold you back - to maintain status quo. Don’t let negative criticism influence you. Instead hold your vision strong and concentrate on the desired end result.
3. Turn off the news - Put yourself on a news diet because most news is intended to create and stimulate fears in order to increase ratings. The daily news focuses our attention on our circle of concern or those things that are outside our control.
4. Increase your value through education – Read and educate yourself on the areas that you want to expand. If you want to improve your job situation, read books on your area or take classes. If you want to improve your business, get a mentor or visit a successful business owner.
5. Fine tune your skills –In our lives, repetition is the mother of skill. Constantly work on mastering skills. For example, your marriage is something that we must constantly work on. Like a bank account, we must make positive daily deposits for a rich relationship.
6. Turn problems into opportunities – Many times problems are blessing in disguise with hidden opportunities.
7. Volunteer to help – Volunteering is a great way to provide a valuable service to other people. But it is also a great way to network with like minded individuals that is ripe with opportunities.
8. Be upbeat and enthusiastic – Upbeat and enthusiastic people attract people and situations that expand their influence. It’s natural to want to be around someone with a magnetic personality. By becoming magnetic, you will attract the opportunities like a compass pointing north.
Acknowledgements: Sensei Tim Rosanelli - John M. Richardson, Jr. - Reinhold Niebuhr (1892 – 1971) – Stephen Covey
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