Influencing Others

The Art of Influencing Others

Leaders of every type of organization must be skilled at influencing others in order to achieve their goals and objectives. Listening is one of the most important necessities of human communication. If you don't listen to people, you are missing out on one of the best ways to influence people.

People will always listen to you when you listen to them. One of the greatest influencing tools is listening. When you listen to what's on a person's mind, you will find that communication barriers are broken. Even if you think you know what they are going to say, listen to them.

If you are a “bad listener,” people will think that you are not interested in them. People will like you if you listen to them. How do you feel about people who listen to what you have to say? Isn't your admiration for them high? Others will feel the same way about you.
Eliminate All Distractions
Distractions inhibit good talkers and listeners. It is important that you remove all distractions when listening to another person. Tune everything else out. You want to create a very warm and comfortable atmosphere for the talker.

What Questioning Will Do
Questions we ask people arouse their thinking processes. When you arouse people's think processes, you give them the chance to express their own ideas and feelings. The only way you will find out what you want to know about another is by asking questions. If you are able to help people think on their own they will respect you and like you. You have been able to do something for them that they were not able to do for themselves. By listening to others, you also fulfill their need to feel important. Through your concern, they feel special.

Keep The Conversation Open
In order to listen, you must keep the conversation open. Some people won't tell you everything on their minds, so you may have to question them to keep the conversation going. All of your questions should relate to who, what, why, where, when and how.

What Questions Do You Ask?
The questions you ask must have a specific purpose. If they don't, you will lose credibility. You must ask questions the person understands. Don't confuse other people by asking complicated questions, such as questions with many parts. Ask them one part of a question at a time. Try to get others to tell you "why." "Why" is one of the best questions to ask people. The reason for asking people questions is to get definite answers. Your questions should prompt definite answers, and they should discourage others from guessing at the answers. The therapeutic value of questioning is lost when people guess at answers.

How To Get Publicity for Your Organization

Getting Publicity:
What’s Newsworthy About Your Organization?

How many times have you seen a segment on your local news, or read an article in the paper and wondered, “How on earth did this make the news?” I live in Louisville, Kentucky, a medium sized city (market) and I find myself asking that question frequently. Too often, as organizations, we assume that we aren’t doing anything that is “newsworthy”, when in fact, most of what we do is. Many fraternal organizations, clubs and associations work diligently on behalf of charitable events all year round. Most of it goes unnoticed because of a lack of public relations efforts.

Don’t confuse getting publicity with “tooting your own horn.” Publicity should be designed to be favorable in nature and to serve as a vehicle to create awareness.

There are a lot of folks out there who are good candidates for membership in your organization. Many would ask to join if they only knew a little more about what you do and what you stand for.

Getting publicity is often as easy as just asking for it. Local TV news and newspapers are always on the lookout for subject matter. Here are some ideas on what may be considered “newsworthy” about your organization:

- A recognized person in your community (ie: business leader or politician) will be a guest speaker at your event.
- You’re hosting a civil service recognition event to honor police officers, firefighters and EMT’s.
- You're hosting an event for military personnel or veterans.
- A prominent community figure is elected to your board of directors or to lead your organization.
- You’re having a special fundraiser for a local charity.

Make contact with the media. Write letters, send a fax or email and follow-up with a phone call. Remember to be persistent and these tips will payoff.

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Membership Retention

The Overlooked Key To Membership Retention:
Delivering What You Promise

I want to challenge you to take a look at your organization’s recruiting material this month. Read it thoroughly.

Many large, national organizations have recruiting brochures and literature that is professionally generated. Smaller organizations utilize less fancy materials but usually these recruiting tools make big promises. After all the purpose of this material is to sell a prospect on the benefits of joining your organization. What promises does your organization make to prospective members?

A lot of recruiting brochures promise opportunities for advancement in knowledge, personal growth, fellowship, social activities, family outings, helping charitable causes, etc. In short, most of them outline at least one membership “benefit” that should be appealing to a prospective member. Keep in mind that when a prospective member submits his (or her) application or petition, he has a reason or motive for doing so. Something that he read or heard, either directly or indirectly, about your organization has attracted him to seek membership.

Based on that fact, is your organization delivering on it’s promises? Are you meeting the expectations of the new member or are you letting them down? Is your organization committed to fulfilling it’s mission? Read your recruiting material. Do you make all of those opportunities available to the members or is it just “lip service?” Is your organization living up to the claims outlined in it’s promotional material or are you advertising falsely?

Independence

INDEPENDENCE

A Webster’s definition:  “not requiring or relying on something else or somebody else.”  A synonym to the word “independent” is “self-reliant.”

Self-reliant.  Is this term included in the definition of “you”?  Successful people in all walks of life are independent or self-reliant.  They are decisive… on their own.

There’s nothing wrong with getting another person’s opinion.  In many cases, when making a decision, you need another point of view in order to cover all the bases.  However, ultimately you must learn to figure things out for yourself.  Trust your own judgment.

Leaders often find themselves making split-second decisions.  These are the times when you’re on your own, solely responsible for the outcome.  You won’t be right 100% of the time; nobody can be.

Leadership expert, John C. Maxwell says, “Successful leaders have the courage to take action while others hesitate.“  Be decisive and be INDEPENDENT.

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Public Speaking Tips

Public Speaking
Improve Your Skills by Observing the Pros

You can visit a bookstore and find any number of books written on the subject of public speaking.  You can take a college course on the subject and you can join clubs that exist to develop speaking skills.

This “formal” education in speaking is important in that it will teach you preparation, structure, technique, delivery styles, etc.  In the case of a classroom or club environment, it will provide experience.

Assuming you have gained some formal or even “trial by fire” speaking experience, here is a big secret to improving your skills:

Observe The Pros In Action

I have had the good fortune of being in the audience of several great speakers.  I not only listen to what they say, but I observe how they say it.

If you have ever heard the great sales trainer, Zig Ziglar speak, I’m sure that you were in awe with his enthusiasm.  He delivers every speech with incredible passion.  Whether this passion is manufactured I’m not sure, but the important thing is that it seems to be sincere.

If you’ve ever heard Dr. Billy Graham preach, you have witnessed the same phenomena.  His passion for his message is undeniable.

Avail yourself of every opportunity to hear great speakers.  Take a pad and pen and make notes on things that impress you.  How were they introduced to the audience?  How did they “lead off” their presentation?  How did they build up?  How did they summarize key points?  How did they bring it to a close?  What was their “call to action?”

Many self-improvement gurus advise that you should emulate people that you consider successful.  This is true for any area of your life that you seek to improve.  You can learn a great deal from professional speakers, motivators and clergy.  Take what you like, incorporate it when you can and notice if there is any improvement.