Leading feels like bullfighting. You don’t control the bull. You control the cape.
Don’t ignore the bull. Respond to it.
Focus energy on responses. For example, you can’t control people. Control how you respond to them.
You can’t control interruptions. Determine how long they last.
How to control the cape…
Credibility unlocks hearts.
Shadow work builds credibility quietly.
Character develops slowly.
Competence means you’re able.
Caring says you serve the interests of others.
Leaders who skip backstage work borrow credibility they haven’t earned. The debt comes due at the worst time. People shut them out.
Practices that supercharge credibility…
Authority builds barriers between people. You overcome by showing interest.
The person with power is responsible to move first.
If you aspire to lead, show interest.
Here’s how…
I brought home a new Jeep Wrangler for a weekend test drive.
We have a six-foot grassy bank leading up to our lawn. I thought, “Perfect. Let’s see if this baby can climb!”
I engaged the 4-wheel drive and hit the bank with confidence.
This is what happened next. Lessons from ruts.
Change minds by understanding how people think. It’s not about your idea. It’s about the way they think.
The heart of influence is connection, not force.
Influence by Shifting from “Should” to “Could”
Influence by Crafting Solutions Together
Change Minds by Connecting with Their Reality
Stop making excuses.
Stop justifying.
Stop proving you’re right.
Stop proving they’re wrong.
Ask for what you want.
Many requests come from dissatisfaction. Stop complaining before asking for something. You can’t antagonize and influence at the same time.
A complaint is not a request.
Ask for what you want…
