Thursday, May 8, 2014

FIVE QUESTIONS LEADERS NEED TO ASK (OF THEMSELVES)
Question 5

Who are the people that I will engage the most?

In answering the first four questions, you likely came to realize that your ability to get anything done is dependent on your relationships. Your legacy and delivering your gift requires you to pay close attention to whom you engage and how you do it. Your success depends on engaging those people that will support, help, and contribute to it, as well as those that will benefit from your gift. It never ceases to captivate my attention when someone is intentional in not only who they choose to engage, rather they pay even more attention to how they do it. That is, how they treat and influence people with mutual respect.

There’s a great deal of advice available on how to network, with whom to network, and how to influence others to get what you want. No doubt, the market for such advice would not exist if there was not a tremendous interest and need for it. It covers all the possibilities from how to engage our families and friends, to building relationships in your community, to how to influence people we work and do business with. These include coworkers, bosses, peers, and customers (just to name a few). Of course, with the increased span of relationships offered through social media, the possibilities appear almost endless.

It may serve us best to first consider what our legacy will be and that not only is it important to identify whom to engage. It is just as important to recognize how to best engage them to build the trusting relationships necessary for trust, mutual respect, and true mutual benefit. After all, your legacy is defined by your relationships and it is through your relationships that you get things done.

One of the most difficult aspects of knowing whom to engage the most can be based on a number of factors. The most often identified themes of managing relationships are knowing who to say “yes” and “no” to and knowing how to ask for help when you need it most. One condition is certain, we have limited time and so we must be very aware of who we choose to engage with, as well as why and how. To help you in making decisions as to whom to engage and share your time with, I am offering four categories of people to engage with:

1.     People with Influence: This is often the first group we recognize and include people in positions that can effect access to resources and through their connections, influence others to provide assets and means allowing you to get things done. This includes connectivity to decision makers and those in positions of key influence.

2.     People Willing to Help. This includes not only the people that are willing to directly contribute by way of time and resources, this also encompasses those that are willing to share information, knowledge, feedback, and the know-how required to get things done. It’s great to have forthright mentors and coaches willing to give you what is often the most difficult thing to ask for… feedback. Let’s face it, it’s not always easy to find those willing to share their truth and give you candid observations and insights. Whether you perceive it as positive or negative, the person that gives you the gift of honesty is often the one you may want to engage more. When you find them, I suggest keeping them by engaging them often.

3.     People of Passion. There is a great deal of value in engaging people with the same passion for the gift you have to offer and love what you’re about. Quite simply, emotion is everything and whatever your purpose is, finding those with a shared passion and mission is invaluable. Commitment is about keeping promises. When so much of our conversation is about accountability, it may serve you better to find those committed to your purpose and not spend too much time with those not on board. Shared passion is a wonderful source of commitment and we naturally attract those who align with our true intention.

4.     People You Are in Service To. The recipients of your gift and those affected by your purpose are key to your success. Listen carefully to what they can offer you and in particular, what they have to say. Pay attention to what they think, feel and see, and you will benefit. They will often take on the role of being your best advocates and supporters, and actively engaging to help you create the greatest return for your time and energy, and theirs. That being said, keep in mind that to be able to give a gift, someone must be willing to receive it. It’s a matter of generosity and the influence you gain by your giving of it.

I’m certain that you can come up with other ideas and ways to define those with whom we can consider engaging. You are welcome to share them and to take part in the conversation (www.edgarpapke.com). The bottom line is that you don’t get anything done by yourself. This is a truth we all share. Globally, we are all part of an interdependent community, allowing us the opportunity to deliver our unique gift to the world and pursue our aspirations and dreams.