Avoid this common mistake

When you grow to more senior roles, what skills become more important?

There are 2 major areas that you must improve to continue growing successfully:

- Your business-building skills

- Your influence skills

The major problem with both is that you'll never have a clear answer of where you're failing until you overcome the challenge.

Or you need an expert to tell you what the problem is.

So many people struggle with their growth because they refuse to invite an expert and keep hoping to figure it out for themselves.

But the solution could be very simple and always available.

Let me give you an example of when managers couldn't figure out the issue until they asked for Dr. Cialdini's help.

There was an issue with teams that made great gains toward their goals in the beginning but had a tendency to slow the progress down in the second part of the project.

What Dr. Cialdini's research revealed is that the slowness started to be observed after a celebration halfway through.

How could leaders keep the teams focused and motivated to keep the pace?

The critical factor contributing to the problem is the message sent by the leaders on that celebration.

In most cases, it sounds like, "Congratulations to all of you. You've made great progress toward the goal."

It turns out that's a mistake.

It's not a mistake to congratulate the teams. They are entitled to that.

But it's a mistake to congratulate them on their progress.

When you use the word "Progress," you're making people look back.

Though it sounds very appreciative, this message gives a sense that most of the work has already been accomplished, and nothing is left to worry about.

It hurts the team's focus.

What did Dr. Cialdini suggest to say instead?

Instead of complementing the teams on their progress, compliment them on their commitment to the goal.

Make people look ahead to the goal and to the work that needs to be done to reach it.

The research is very clear on this.

People who are complemented on their commitment to the goal make better future gains than people who are congratulated on their progress.

This is the change of one word that we should never miss.

Imagine the application of just this one principle to your business and team leadership.

Imagine how much more empowered your team will be with just this one principle.

If you'd like to learn more about other principles and find other examples, click here:

https://bit.ly/ethical-influence-practitioner