“Speak of Outcomes”. It’s a simple, yet potentially powerful leadership mantra for any leader seeking to become more inspiring.
As you seek to become more of a leader and less a manager, how will your conversations need to change? You will need to speak less of what needs to be done and how to do it. Instead, speak more about why. In the words of acclaimed author and executive coach Marshall Goldsmith…
“What Got You Here, Won’t Get You There”
For managers who were promoted to leadership positions based on their expertise, speaking of what to do and how to do it is a difficult habit to break. To become an effective leader, this is a habit you need to address.
When you’re working to break a habit, your efforts are best served by identifying your counter-productive behaviors and replacing them with new more productive actions. For that, I offer a three-word mantra to simply define your new behavior.
To develop this essential leadership skill, I recommend that you pause to ask and answer these questions. Consider the interests of your followers. And, the desired outcomes you all hope to attain through your collaborative efforts.
How will you effectively “speak of outcomes” in a way that will inspire others to engage?
Intrinsic Motivation occurs when people feel they’re part of something bigger than themselves.
Work conversations can easily drift away from outcomes. When they do, the talk can caught in downward spirals where win-lose scenarios prevail. Inspirational leaders avoid that trap and divert the discussion to possibilities. The possibilities of getting to the promised land. The outcome where eveyone wins.
On a scale of 1 to 10 with 10 being a highly galvanizing leader and 1 being an autocratic manager, how would you rate your ability to inspires others and make them feel they are part of something bigger than themselves? Assuming you’ve not yet reached your full potential as an inspirational leader, what can you do to improve?
Tom Lemanski helps accomplished leaders unlock potential, solve complex challenges, and amplify their impact.
Effective leadership is the key to driving meaningful, lasting success in a fast-changing world.
Tom’s focus on innovative strategies and self-awareness creates transformative results for leaders striving for the next level.
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