Ever hear yourself saying something like I don’t understand why I am not getting anywhere. People seem to be resistant and determined to stop me in my tracks.
If we are honest we all probably say something like this more often than we like to admit.
At the same time, your ability to get support from others is a huge factor in getting results as a leader.
I wish I could say that there was some surefire, guaranteed formula you could apply every time and it would always work. Sadly this is not the case.
On the other hand I really believe there are some things that you can do to increase the chances of getting the support of others
The first thing is to get crystal clear in your own mind what you want to achieve. Unless you have clarity it is always going to be difficult to get your messages across to others.
The second important factor is to involve people. Of course not everyone will take you up on the opportunity to be involved but they will appreciate that you have given them the opportunity.
The third important factor is to step into the shoes of those whose support you are trying to secure. When you do this you can start to think about the type of objections or concerns that they might have and how you might respond. You are unlikely to identify everything but you might be surprised on how much you anticipate.
Fourthly and finally you need to be willing to adapt. If you take something to people seeking their support, don’t fall into the trap of not being willing to adapt to new insights you get. If there is one thing that will alienate you even more, it is pretending people have a say when they don’t.
The Bottom Line: Getting the support of others will present challenges and as a leader you need to be willing to step up and address these challenges if you are to get great results.
Duncan Brodie helps accountants to be better leaders and achieve more success through people. He invites you to check out his free resources
Since 2006 I’ve worked with in excess of 8,000 accountants and professionals in workshops, seminars and one to one helping them land their next jobs and become better leaders, presenters and business partners. Before that I spent 25 years in accountancy climbing the career ladder from Payments Clerk to FD. I’m a CIMA Fellow, Certified Professional Coach and Team Coach Facilitator.