So many people want to drive change but hold back, feeling helpless, because they aren’t responsible for decisions in the group. You can tailor your efforts to impact the decisions and direction of group regardless of your position within it. Today I’m sharing the psychological tips to drive the changes you want to see when you don’t have the final say. Want to see the psychological tips for driving change in action? Click here to watch the YouTube video!
Leading people without being a people leader
I’ve lead people in formal people leadership roles and I’ve also lead leaders as a member of their team. If you’re raising your eyebrow at that, this next part is for you. Growing my influence started long before I was responsible for people.
Let’s talk football. Who is responsible for leading the team? The coach of course. And after that, are all players considered equal? Nope. Who does that coach lean on to lead the group? The team captain. How do they determine the captains? It is the player who is out there giving it his all, setting the example, and rallying the players. It’s the player who is leading the team. They lean on each other to lead. You see them talking on the sidelines, trusting each other to call and execute plays. There are plays specifically set for the captain to make the decision on the field. The coach, that official leader, wants the influence of the unofficial leader. When they are at odds, we all know about it because they are meant to work in tandem.
This isn’t about forcing you into a people leader role to make changes you want to see. It is about learning what it takes to be the captain on the field that the leader wants to lead with and be led by.
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How do I become the unofficial leader to drive change?
Becoming the leader that can influence change requires time and attention to the leader and the topic. Let’s focus on the topic first. The leader to drive change, spends more time in that topic than anyone else. You need to immerse yourself in the basics, the nuances of your situation, the history, and most importantly, the reason your change is the best option.
Now, before you throw your hands up because other people on the team, in the group, or at the company have you beat in time, stop it right there. I’m not talking about butt in seat time. I’m talking about intentional effort toward the topic. Intentional time and focus directed at the topic puts you leaps and bounds ahead of passive butt in seat time. Keep in mind that there is a reason you’re driving the change. You have passion and a strong why for your beliefs. Follow them. Developing your confidence in this area will have a massive impact on your strategy to learn and quickly outpace those passive people. This is something we’ll cultivate in the Ripple Effect workshop, click here to learn more.
Be the leader people want to be led by
I want you to think about the people you have knowingly followed in the past. The ones that had you saying, yup, I’m with them. What did they do differently? What was special about their approach that made you want to follow their lead? This would be a great time to make a list. Consider why you switched to natural cleaning products or makeup, why you buy the brand of cereal you do, or what made you join that nonprofit you’ve been volunteering for. Create a list of the factors to understand how they impacted your decision making. It’s easy to assume that you followed someone because you agreed with them, but why? There are clear psychological concepts that influence us to believe in and listen to some people over others. You can learn a lot about what drives you by reflecting on where you’ve been led in the past.
Now, how can you incorporate those things into your communication of the change you’d like to see? Consider what influenced you most and how you can use those same things to influence others. We’ll get into more of the impact of those psychological tactics in the YouTube video so click here and watch. For now though, I want you to consider what has influenced you to change because it will make you a better influencer.
Drive change regardless of your position
Immediately when you start putting together the time and the focus on both the people you need to influence, and the change you want to make, you create a ripple. Every contribution you make to the discussion, every email you add to the thread, every nonverbal expression you put forth has an influence on the decision. Whether you’re sitting at the head of the table with the official title or participating in the group as the most junior person in the room, you can make an impact through driving the change you want to see.
You probably already are. Most of us are influencing people every single day. The key is ensuring its toward the change you want to make. Just as these subtle adds can drive change you want, they can also detract from it if you don’t use them correctly. Learn how to make all of your ripples influence the change you want to see in the Ripple Effect workshop. After you complete the hour long training you’ll be equipped to influence decisions in every moment of every day. Click here to save your spot.