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5 Approaches to Listening That Lead To Greater Influence

5 approaches to listening

The presentation you thought you nailed didn’t get the buy-in you anticipated.

You didn’t understand why your boss wasn’t thrilled with your results on the project because you thought you did it just the way he asked.

The meeting you had with your direct report left you feeling frustrated…he just didn’t listen. Did you?

Influencing others requires many things to come together: a logical presentation of information, credibility, and conviction in your message for starters. We often forget the impact listening has on whether we are successful when influencing.  Effective listening leads to greater understanding and credibility providing us with a gateway to influence.

While most people would agree that listening is a critical skill to develop, few understand the nuances of listening that can make or break the ability to influence.  There are five approaches to listening. The most effective influencers go beyond active listening and learn to use each of the five approaches effectively.

The five approaches to listening:

  1. Appreciative listeners simply enjoy the interaction and listen for enjoyment, humor, and to connect  with others.
  2. Empathic listeners listen to understand others better.  They try to understand both the speaker’s  perspective and emotions.
  3. Comprehensive listeners focus on the main ideas.  They are naturally good at identifying  problems and opportunities even when people are disorganized.
  4. Discerning listeners pay attention to details others miss. They minimize distractions and listen for  specific, detailed information.
  5. Evaluative listeners listen for information that will help them evaluate or judge the accuracy of the  speaker or the content.  They verify facts and don’t tolerate exaggerations or inconsistencies.

Understanding to what degree you naturally use each of the five approaches will help you be more influential in all settings.  Using the wrong approach to listening in a given situation may lead to missed information, damaged credibility, and lack of buy-in among other things.

Consider the following examples:

Jennifer is an IT Director presenting a change to her team of 20.  Jennifer’s natural listening style is a combination of comprehensive and evaluative listening.  We tend to present information the same way we like to hear it.  For Jennifer, that means a clear concise message with proven facts to back it up. That is exactly how she presented this change, so why didn’t her team get on board with the change?

The primary style of many of the engineers in the room was a combination of discerning and evaluative approaches.  That meant that they wanted much more detail about how the change was going to be implemented, their role in the change, and how it would ultimately impact them.  While they appreciated the facts Jennifer provided, they found her argument too high level and vague to be influenced by it.  Jennifer would have had a much better chance at influencing this group if she had adapted her approach to their listening style and provided them the details they needed to get on board.

Tom is a customer service representative who fielded a call from an angry customer.  He listened to the customer until he thought he understood the problem and checked with the customer to make sure he got it right.  Tom was relieved when the customer confirmed that he got it and proceeded to move forward with the solution.  While the customer’s frustration diminished, it didn’t dissipate altogether. Why would a customer still be frustrated after Tom solved his problem?

Tom’s comprehensive listening approach enabled him to quickly determine and solve the problem. That wasn’t the only thing the customer needed, however.  When people are experiencing strong emotions like this customer was, they also want empathic listening – someone to just listen to them vent and hear how difficult the problem made their lives.  The ideal response to this customer would have been if Tom would have listened empathically first and heard the customer out and then moved on to comprehensive listening to solve the problem.  Had Tom adapted his listening style with this customer, he would have been more likely to have a promoter at the end of the call.

At what point in a meeting should the appreciative approach be used?  Which of the approaches do the most successful sales people use?  How is the listening style of a leader different from a manger? These are just some of the questions that can be answered by better understanding the five approaches to listening and how to adapt your style to your audience for more effective influence.

Are you looking to maximize your influence and become the most effective leader you can be? We’d love to work with you. Contact us to schedule a free consultation with Dr. Heather Johnson to discuss the results you need to get and how we can help you get them.

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Explore our selection of Online Courses and Webinars

Learn More

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Dr. Heather JohnsonDr. Heather Johnson is an internationally recognized speaker with extensive experience developing leaders.  With a doctorate in Psychology and over 20 years of business experience, she works with leaders to quickly identify individual and team performance obstacles and develops customized solutions that lead to rapid change and lasting results. Heather facilitates public and in-house workshops that deliver personalized, practical, and immediate results.  Some of her most requested topics are: Influence, Emotional Intelligence, Team Building, Communication, and Strategic Planning. For more information call contact us here or call 651-210-6021.

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When Confidence isn’t Enough

It’s essential to focus on credibility when working with leaders to help them increase their ability to influence others, both formally and informally. It isn’t a surprise to anyone that credibility is necessary for influence, but it isn’t until we dig a little deeper that people realize just how important it is. It is often the case that they find their own credibility could use a little improvement.

The part of credibility that leaders most frequently focus on is confidence. The confidence a speaker conveys directly impacts the listener’s tendency to buy into the message. A nervous speaker will cause uncertainty in listeners. That means a leader must look and sound confident through posture, pitch, gestures, facial expressions, cadence, etc. While a critical component of credibility, confidence is only part of the equation.

When isn’t confidence enough?

  • When you are selling a product, service, or idea
  • When you want to encourage questions
  • When you want to encourage open discussion
  • When you want to keep listeners engaged

An equally important part of the credibility equation is genuineness.

When a leader doesn’t come across as genuine, people are less likely to buy into an idea or get on board with an initiative, as the leader’s confidence may come across as arrogance.

I once worked with a very confident leader who didn’t come across as genuine or connect with others on an emotional level. He was smart, experienced, and confidently spoke to people individually and in groups. Despite this, the team talked about him negatively, mocked him, complained about him, and waited for the day when he would be replaced.

The point is that a leader who focuses on just half of the equation falls short because it isn’t enough. The best leaders have a good balance between confidence and genuineness.

So what can you do to genuinely connect with people? First, you have to care about your team. Most of the leaders I work with do genuinely care about their teams; it just doesn’t always come across that way if they are moving fast and are very direct in their communications. Leaders who care and want to build up the other half of the equation can focus on 3 things:

1. Smile and eye contact

The combination of a genuine smile and real eye contact go a long way toward increasing credibility. People report feeling important and valued when leaders make eye contact with them instead of looking around the room or multi-tasking. A genuine smile that reaches the eyes often elicits a smile in return, leading to a positive connection. A few of the times leaders have the opportunity to use this powerful nonverbal combination are when they great their team, recognize accomplishments, and talk about the opportunity in challenges ahead. Give it a try and you’ll see both your credibility and your influence increase.

2. Share personal stories

Leaders, especially confident and accomplished leaders, can come across as cold and unapproachable. That makes people hesitant to ask questions or bring problems to them. Sharing short, relevant personal stories helps the team see another side of you and relate to you better. A story about a challenge you overcame can help inspire them to find a way to overcome their current challenge. A story about a failure you learned from can help them see that you make mistakes too and that it can be a positive if there is a lesson learned.

Leaders who attend Maximum Influence learn how to incorporate stories when they influence. They are consistently surprised by the significant impact they have in terms of engagement, genuine connection, and impact. Find an opportunity to share a little of yourself through story and you’ll see both your credibility and influence increase.

3. Humor

Humor is another great way to make a genuine connection with people to balance confidence and increase credibility. A very confident leader can come across as intimidating and shut people down. If you want to soften your presence so you don’t come across as intimidating, humor is a great tool to lighten the mood. Self-deprecating humor works well when appropriate. It cuts through tension, relaxes people, and opens them up to listening. While it isn’t appropriate to use humor in every situation in which you influence, finding the opportunities where you can will help you balance the credibility equation and increase your ability to influence.

I work with a lot of leaders who are out of balance when it comes to credibility. The key to improving credibility is knowing how to be both genuine and confident. Genuineness opens people’s minds and hearts to your message, and confidence moves them to take action. Skillfully striking that balance takes practice, and is one of the most valuable skills we teach in Maximum Influence. Each of the three strategies above will help you connect with people on an emotional level and increase your ability to influence.

Are you looking to maximize your influence and become the most effective leader you can be? We’d love to work with you. Contact us to schedule a free consultation with Dr. Heather Johnson to discuss the results you need to get and how we can help you get them.

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Explore our selection of Online Courses and Webinars

Learn More

—————

Dr. Heather JohnsonDr. Heather Johnson is an internationally recognized speaker with extensive experience developing leaders.  With a doctorate in Psychology and over 20 years of business experience, she works with leaders to quickly identify individual and team performance obstacles and develops customized solutions that lead to rapid change and lasting results. Heather facilitates public and in-house workshops that deliver personalized, practical, and immediate results.  Some of her most requested topics are: Influence, Emotional Intelligence, Team Building, Communication, and Strategic Planning. For more information call contact us here or call 651-210-6021.

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The steep cost of “It’s not a good time”

“It’s not a good time.” This is a common response when it comes to personal & professional development. It’s easy to put it off in favor of urgent tasks. The thing is, there will never be a good time.

Is it the right time to continue your professional development?

Consider this scenario:

You know one of the keys to becoming more effective in your role is developing your ability to influence others. Your peers have recommended a powerful course that helped them organize their thoughts, confidently get their ideas heard, and stand out from the pack, becoming the one others turn to for input. It sounds fantastic and just what you need! You’d love to attend the course, but it’s “not a good time”.

That statement could be very costly. Here are two examples illustrating how.

Example #1

Michael, a Distributor Specialist, is glad he didn’t continue putting off investing in his development. A couple of weeks after he attended our course on Influence, Michael had a meeting with a customer who placed monthly orders with him. This time, he used the tools he learned to adapt his message more specifically to this customer and to ask questions that got her thinking differently. Michael’s ability to influence more effectively led to an order that was $45,648 more than the standard monthly order for this customer! That would have been a big miss if Michael had decided it wasn’t a good time to develop his influence. Putting attending off just three more months would have cost him $136,944.

Example #2

Brian was a high potential individual contributor when he attended our course. His goal was to develop the communication skills he needed to get him noticed, promoted, and ultimately lead a team. A month later, Brian had an opportunity for a promotion. He used the preparation methodology he learned in our course to prepare for the interview and organize his thoughts. He used the stress management and delivery skills taught to express himself confidently and clearly during the interview. Brian said he wouldn’t have gotten the promotion had he not attended our Influence development program. Again, it shows that it pays to take the time to invest in yourself.

What opportunities will you miss in the next few months if you decide that this “isn’t a good time” for training?

  • Will your team continue to resist change?
  • Will you lose out on a promotion?
  • Will your request for funding be denied?

Now is the perfect time to prioritize your influence development.
You influence all day in personal and professional interactions. The question is: are you effective? We have several opportunities to help make sure that you are.

  1. Master the Fundamentals of Influence – This self-paced online course is the perfect starting point for the highly motivated learner who wants to learn & practice the fundamentals of influence on their own. The professional videos, robust workbook, and exercises will make you a master of influence in no time.
  2. Unleash Your Influence – The Master Class – This comprehensive master class is for those whose success depends on their ability to influence. The videos, webinars, and personal coaching allow you to develop one core influence skill at a time with a small group. By the end, you’ll be able to apply countless effective tools to any situation in which you need to influence.
  3. Are you looking for a customized solution to help your entire team improve their influence or other leadership skills? – We will come to you (virtually or in-person) and deliver a customized experience where everyone on your team will develop the ability to influence and drive results.

If you’re unsure that which of these courses would be better for your specific needs, schedule a free consultation with Dr. Heather Johnson to discuss the results you need to get and how Influence development can help you get them.

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Explore our selection of Online Courses and Webinars

Learn More

—————

Dr. Heather JohnsonDr. Heather Johnson is an internationally recognized speaker with extensive experience developing leaders.  With a doctorate in Psychology and over 20 years of business experience, she works with leaders to quickly identify individual and team performance obstacles and develops customized solutions that lead to rapid change and lasting results. Heather facilitates public and in-house workshops that deliver personalized, practical, and immediate results.  Some of her most requested topics are: Influence, Emotional Intelligence, Team Building, Communication, and Strategic Planning. For more information call contact us here or call 651-210-6021.

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7 ways to Reduce Zoom Fatigue

If your response to an invite for a video meeting is an audible groan, you’re not alone. Video meetings are valuable tools that help us stay connected and improve communication in many situations. On the other hand, attending too many video meetings can deplete your energy.

are you experiencing zoom fatigue

Before the pandemic, I couldn’t go a week without hearing one of my clients complain about unproductive meetings. Now that meetings are virtual, I hear complaints almost daily. All of the old frustrations have followed us into the virtual world where new issues compound them.

Video calls are more physically and psychologically draining than in-person meetings. Our brains work harder because there is more to process on a video call. Whether it’s all of the video tiles, multiple screens, or multiple documents, there is a lot of information vying for our attention. If there are five people on the call, we don’t just pay attention to the five videos; we notice five backgrounds, including people or pets walking by. It’s a lot of stimulation. Even if you’re not consciously aware of it, your brain works overtime to filter out the noise and focus your attention.

We are similar to teenagers learning how to drive. They need to think about every little decision they make because experience hasn’t created the muscle memory that automates those decisions. As video chat novices, we have to think about unmuting, sharing our screen, annotating, and more. Each decision takes additional energy, and we soon feel drained.

Video calls also require more effort to read body language, which is a valuable part of communication. What used to come naturally in face-to-face interactions now takes deliberate effort because of poor lighting, poor framing, or a slow internet connection. We require more energy to process what we see as we wonder if someone is avoiding eye contact because they’re nervous or aren’t comfortable looking into the camera. These things add to the effort it takes to communicate, collaborate, and make decisions.

On top of all of that, we see ourselves on video throughout the meeting. Can you imagine sitting in a conference room with a mirror in front of you? It sounds absurd, yet that’s what we have in our virtual world. It makes people very self-conscious. The distraction of the videos wastes energy. In addition, watching ourselves speak can make us less authentic as focus turns to ourselves rather than our audience.

When you add all of this up, it might be more accurate to call it “Zoom Exhaustion”. Let’s take a look at 7 ways to manage your energy and use it to increase your productivity.

  1. Take Microbreaks –
    Even a 5-minute break can be beneficial. Get away from the computer and phone and move or meditate. Schedule microbreaks throughout the day to ensure that you remember to take them. They will give you a burst of energy.

  2. Turn off video –
    Not every meeting requires video. If reading others is essential, then turn videos on, but don’t default to using videos for every meeting. Every time you’re able to turn the videos off, you’ll save energy.

  3. Cancel the meeting –
    As with any other meeting, ask yourself if the meeting is necessary or if you could accomplish your purpose with an email or a brief phone call. If you’re not facilitating, be sure your attendance is needed. If you’re not sure, ask. It may be that a copy of the meeting notes is sufficient. Every meeting you don’t need to attend will save energy.

  4. Hide your video from yourself –
    If seeing yourself on video distracts you or makes you self-conscious, hide it. To do this in Zoom, click on the menu on the top right of your video and select “hide self-view”. You won’t see your video, but others will.

  5. Get a standing desk –
    Volumes of research show the harmful effects of sitting all day. Standing up for part of the day will give you more energy than sitting down meeting after meeting.

  6. Change your view –
    It is nice to start a meeting in gallery view to see who is on the call and greet people. Looking at all of those videos for an entire meeting is more work for your brain than just looking at one. Changing the view to speaker view gives your brain a break from the stimulation of multiple videos. It also takes less energy to read facial expressions when the speaker’s video is big.

  7. Resist the temptation to multi-task –
    It’s tempting to have email or other work open during a meeting. While I don’t recommend multi-tasking in any meeting, I discourage it here because it contributes to Zoom Fatigue by giving your brain one more thing to focus on when it’s already overtaxed. Save some energy by resisting the temptation to multi-task.

Zoom Fatigue is real and takes a psychical and psychological toll. You don’t have to sit passively by while Zoom calls drain your energy. These seven suggestions to increase your energy are a great start, but this is only the beginning. What else are you doing to fight Zoom Fatigue?

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If you’d like to increase your ability to influence and to have an opportunity for practice and to go deeper, register for our self-paced online course ‘Mastering the Fundamentals of Influence’.

Learn More

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Dr. Heather JohnsonDr. Heather Johnson is an internationally recognized speaker with extensive experience developing leaders.  With a doctorate in Psychology and over 20 years of business experience, she works with leaders to quickly identify individual and team performance obstacles and develops customized solutions that lead to rapid change and lasting results. Heather facilitates public and in-house workshops that deliver personalized, practical, and immediate results.  Some of her most requested topics are: Influence, Emotional Intelligence, Team Building, Communication, and Strategic Planning. For more information call contact us here or call 651-210-6021.

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5 Ways to Get Your Ideas Heard in Meetings

get your ideas heard with these 5 tipsHave you ever presented an idea in a meeting that was met with silence only to have someone a short time later present a nearly identical idea and receive an enthusiastic response? When that happens, people feel understandably frustrated or even marginalized. There are many reasons that this happens, but often it boils down to not confidently grabbing people’s attention and clearly articulating your idea.

In addition to building a solid reputation and strong credibility over time, there are 5 things you can do to grab attention and get your ideas heard.

1. Speak up.

People who speak with greater projection not only grab attention, but also sound more confident. If you are naturally soft-spoken, this will take a bit of effort. I find that it is helpful for some people to imagine speaking to someone at the farthest corner of the room. People who struggle with this often feel like they are yelling even though those around them say they are speaking in an average volume. It is especially important as you begin speaking to be loud enough to grab attention. If you can relate to this, ask for feedback as you continue to find your volume.

2. Use your body.

Your body is a valuable tool to help you grab and keep attention. Leaning forward signals that you have something to contribute and draws attention to you. Use purposeful gestures to hold attention and illustrate points. People who fidget look nervous, which can cause others to doubt ideas. Keep your hands on the table when you speak, and don’t play with pens, rings, paper or other distracting objects.

3. Make eye contact.

Making eye contact as you’re sharing an idea not only helps people stay engaged, it increases your confidence. Make sure to connect with everyone in the meeting. Don’t avoid intimidating people or focus exclusively on people with whom you feel most comfortable.

4. Speak clearly and concisely.

People can’t support an idea they don’t understand. Rambling and repeating yourself will only confuse people or cause them to lose interest. Either way, you lose. We have helped thousands of people learn how to clearly and concisely present their ideas. With practice, you can become very good at it.

5. Manage your pace.

People who speak slowly have a difficult time keeping others engaged. If you want people to listen, pick up the pace. Just be careful not to speak so quickly that people can’t keep up. It is also important to adapt your pace for your audience. If you are sharing an idea with a group of slower-paced, analytical people, slow your pace to give them a chance to consider the idea. On the other hand, if you have a group of high energy, fast-paced people in the meeting, you will lose them if you don’t speak quickly.

When you put all of these together, you are much more likely to confidently share your idea and keep listeners engaged. The days of your idea falling on deaf ears only to have it positively received when someone else shares it will be over.

Do you experience frustration in getting your ideas heard? How is it impacting you, your teams and your customers? If you’d like help in learning to confidently and clearly present your ideas and get them heard, contact Dr. Heather Johnson to discuss options that can be customized for you.

Dr. Heather JohnsonDr. Heather Johnson is an internationally recognized speaker with extensive experience developing leaders.  With a doctorate in Psychology and over 30 years of business experience, she works with leaders to quickly identify individual and team performance obstacles and develops customized solutions that lead to rapid change and lasting results. Heather facilitates public and in-house workshops that deliver personalized, practical, and immediate results.  Some of her most requested topics are: Influence, Emotional Intelligence, Team Building, Communication, and Strategic Planning. For more information call contact us here or call 651-210-6021.

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5 Tips When Influencing Executives

Do you need to influence up?
Influencing others is a critical skill for anyone in a leadership position. You may influence peers, your team, vendors, customers, and, of course, executives. Although the foundations of influence apply to all audiences, the five tips below will help you influence executives.

1. Clearly state what you want

Executives, more than any other audience are looking for the bottom line. They are listening for what you want and whether or not you make a good case for it. Tell them at the beginning what you want, make a clear case for it, and end with a direct call to action.

Example 1:
If you need them to make a decision, start by telling them you need a decision on X. Give them your recommendation, and back it up with facts. Once you’ve made a solid case, ask them for their decision, and let them know when you need it.

Example 2:
If you need authorization to spend on development, tell them up front that you believe it’s critical to make this investment in employees, and you need their authorization to do so. Go on to make a business case for the development, including the expected return on investment, and then ask them to authorize it.

2. Be concise

No rambling. Focus on the big picture instead of details. Although there are always exceptions, executives want presentations to be very brief. As you review your content, continually ask yourself if points are essential to achieving your purpose. If not, cut them out and focus on what is.

3. Make your points clear

Executives listen for the main points. Make sure yours are clear.

Let them know up front what to listen for:
‘I’m going to share three reasons we need to move forward on this’.

Call out each point by number:
‘The first reason is…’ ‘The second reason is…’

This will increase the likelihood that they hear and remember your points. Your points will only compel action if they are heard.

4. Prepare for smooth, logical delivery

Choppy delivery is often perceived as nerves, which can cause executives to lose confidence in your message. Don’t make the mistake so many others do and over-prepare for executives. When you do that, you’ll sound canned. They will likely disengage and then hammer you with questions to see if you really know what you’re talking about. Prepare enough so you know your points cold, but don’t memorize every word.

5. Exude confidence

The more confident you look and sound, the more confident executives feel. When they feel confident, there are fewer questions and you are more likely to achieve your purpose. Make eye contact with even the most intimidating executive. Speak with a strong voice and eliminate fillers.

Executives are a unique audience and require a unique approach. The next time you prepare for an executive audience, apply these five tips to help ensure your success.

Dr. Heather JohnsonDr. Heather Johnson is an internationally recognized speaker with extensive experience developing leaders.  With a doctorate in Psychology and over 20 years of business experience, she works with leaders to quickly identify individual and team performance obstacles and develops customized solutions that lead to rapid change and lasting results. Heather facilitates public and in-house workshops that deliver personalized, practical, and immediate results.  Some of her most requested topics are: Influence, Emotional Intelligence, Team Building, Communication, and Strategic Planning. For more information call contact us here or call 651-210-6021.

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Neighborly Standoff

We all face highly emotional situations from time to time personally and professionally. Your approach impacts the communication throughout the situation, the relationships of the people involved, and long-term outcomes. Do you see yourself in either approach in the situation between these two neighbors?

Neighborly Stand-off

The situation

Shortly after Trent moved into his dream home, he went next door to meet his new neighbor, Jack, who was also new to the neighborhood. During a friendly conversation, Jack explained to Trent that the construction materials in the yard were for a 2-story garage he planned to build with living space above it. As Trent listened to Jack’s plan, he became increasingly concerned that this new garage not only encroached on his border, but that it would negatively impact his view and the value of his house.

Trent went home that night and began looking into the ordinances to see if Jack was actually in violation, and if he was, what could be done. To save time, he called Steve, a close friend and neighbor who has had previous boundary disputes of his own. Steve was sure that Jack’s plans would violate the law and Jack would need to amend the plans for his garage. Trent planned to go back over and talk to Jack the following evening.

The escalation

In the meantime, Steve continued to ponder the situation and became more and more angry as he thought of the impact Jack’s garage would have not only on Trent’s property, but on the whole neighborhood. Steve hadn’t met Jack yet, but he pegged him as a selfish outsider who wasn’t going to follow the rules no matter what. Steve went to Jack’s house and began walking around the garage foundation and taking measurements. Jack came outside demanding to know what Steve was doing on his property and things escalated from there. Voices were raised, profanity was flying, and lawsuits were threatened. Two other neighbors heard the exchange and were drawn in as well. It ended with a call to the sheriff and everyone going back to their respective houses.

The response

Trent was disappointed when he heard that things had taken such an adversarial turn before he could talk with Jack personally. As Trent considered how to approach Jack, he thought about what he wanted to accomplish. Trent wanted to find a way that Jack could build his garage without negatively impacting Trent’s view or property value. He also wanted to preserve the relationship because he will live next door to Jack for the foreseeable future and their kids will likely play together.

When Trent saw Jack in his yard, he grabbed a bottle of bourbon, took a deep breath, and went to talk. As he approached, he said, “So, I hear you met Steve.” That broke the tension and Trent asked Jack if he’d like to talk about this over a drink. Trent spent most of the 90 minutes that followed listening. Jack shared details of his plans as well as his understanding of the ordinances. Trent began to realize that he wasn’t as “right” as he thought he was (and Steve was certain he was) and his perspective began to change. There was more to Jack’s plans than the garage, and Trent realized that this might actually increase, not decrease, the value of his property. He still had some concerns about the impact on his view that he shared with Jack. They made a lot of progress during their conversation, and agreed to keep talking.

The impact

While they didn’t resolve everything at once, two important things happened. First, Trent’s willingness to listen quickly diffused Jack’s anger over feeling attacked by Steve and calmed his natural reflex to attack when he feels threatened. Had Jack chosen a confrontational response, there would very likely be an ongoing battle long after the issue of the garage was behind them.

Second, Trent began laying a solid foundation for a good relationship for years to come that won’t involve attorneys. Trent demonstrated open, respectful communication and a desire to find a mutually beneficial solution. This enabled Jack to move from defending himself to a willingness to compromise. This foundation will pave the way to future conversations when there are disagreements.

Are you looking to improve your influence and communication skills this year? We’re here to help. Check out our growing list of online courses by clicking the button below!

NEW: Explore our selection of Online Courses and Webinars

Learn More

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Dr. Heather JohnsonDr. Heather Johnson is a nationally recognized speaker with extensive experience developing leaders.  With a doctorate in Psychology and over 20 years of business experience, she works with leaders to quickly identify individual and team performance obstacles and develops customized solutions that lead to rapid change and lasting results. Heather facilitates public and in-house workshops that deliver personalized, practical, and immediate results.  Some of her most requested topics are: Influence, Emotional Intelligence, Team Building, Communication, and Strategic Planning. For more information call contact us here or call 651-322-7821.

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Are You In A Hurry To Leave 2020 Behind?

Leaving 2020 Behind

Before putting 2020 behind you…

There are a lot of people anxious to put 2020 behind them and start fresh in 2021. There’s nothing wrong with that, but before you leave 2020 in the dust, take the time to find and assimilate the lessons from 2020, so you can use them next year.

One of my favorite quotes is:

Many people can relate to dark times this year. Some people passed in and out of them, while others still grapple with devastating loss. Can you relate? I know I can.

The first dark place for me this year was in March when I watched our booked business begin to disappear from the calendar. We specialize in leadership development, and everything we did before 2020 was conducted in person. We initially thought in terms of “postponing” dates but soon realized that COVID was here to stay.

The simple solution was to transition into online and virtual courses. We learned quickly not to confuse simple with easy. Our focus has always been on the results we get, not the delivery of content, so our challenge wasn’t adapting to a new format. Our challenge was finding a way to guarantee the results in this new format.

As dark as it was, we soon realized that we hadn’t been buried; we’d been planted, and we began to grow. After a significant investment in technology and countless hours uncovering the secret to getting meaningful, measurable results virtually, we launched our first course in August.

We knew we were onto something when 100% of people in the first and second virtual course said they loved it and that they were happy they experienced it virtually rather than in person.

We are ready to bounce back stronger than ever in 2021, but it would be a mistake to leave 2020 behind without grabbing all of the lessons we can and making them work for us in 2021.

As I reflect on the lessons 2020 taught me, there is a long list, but I’ll focus on one game-changer:

At KPG, we learned that our belief that we couldn’t deliver results virtually was not only erroneous; it was holding us back as a company. This lesson brought renewed confidence that we can continue to guarantee meaningful results for our clients both in person and virtually and will change our business model forever. It will also serve as a reminder to challenge what we think we know.

What about you?

What did 2020 teach you that you will apply we start fresh in 2021? What did you learn about yourself, your team, your customers, your processes, resilience, etc.?

Now is the perfect time to reflect on the good and the bad of 2020 use it to make the most of 2021.

Webinar Tuesday, 11am December 29

Learn strategies that will help you set the stage for 2021:

  • Increase your energy and sharpen your focus
  • Prepare to overcome challenges and capitalize on opportunities
  • Reset the emotional tone for yourself and your team

REGISTER HERE

WE’VE ADDED TWO ADDITIONAL SESSIONS OF OUR VIRTUAL COURSE!

‘Unleash Your Influence: The Master Class’

Listen to a message from Dr. Heather Johnson

ACT NOW AND SAVE!

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Influence, Optimism, and Leading Through The Pandemic

Impossible is I'm Possible

Is the pandemic testing your optimism?

Leading through a pandemic is an enormous challenge. To get to the other side, leaders need to leverage their influence skills to

  • set the emotional tone for their team
  • lead into unchartered territory
  • provide the information people need in a way they will hear it

The ability to influence has never been more critical, and optimism is an essential tool for leading your team through a pandemic.

Optimists focus on the positive and have a general belief in their ability to get through adversity, allowing them to see opportunities others may not. Optimists don’t ignore negativity. They accept and face adversity head on and focus on finding ways to overcome it.

There is no denying that COVID-19 brought with it a long list of negatives. Ignoring them or downplaying them can hurt your credibility and erode trust. When leaders demonstrate that they hear and understand the adversity and challenges their teams experience and help them see a path through it, people are more likely to begin moving forward again.

Optimism helps protect against stress and the illness that can accompany it. It facilitates problem-solving and serves as a catalyst for taking action and moving more quickly through setbacks and change. People are experiencing pressure from all around them, and many are experiencing debilitating levels of stress. Leaders who model optimism will increase their team’s ability to manage that stress, solve the seemingly endless challenges 2020 continues to throw at us, and ultimately bounce back.

There are three beliefs optimists share that help them lead their teams through adversity. Do any of these resonate with you?

1. Adversity is temporary

Optimists view adversity as temporary rather than permanent. For example, an optimistic response to a sharp drop in revenue would be:

“The pandemic hit us hard. We’ve gotten through hard times before, and we’ll do it again. We’ll need to get creative to do it, so let’s dig deep and develop new ways to create a customer experience that will wow them during the pandemic.”

Optimists expect that they will find a way to change their situation for the better and keep looking until they find it. The pandemic, like any other setback or even tragedy, won’t last forever. Reminding your team of this can help them keep moving forward.

2. Positivity should be amplified

Optimists generalize positive experiences and isolate negative ones. For example, an optimistic response to seeing even a small indication of resilience on the team would be:

“That’s the attitude we need. We are a resilient team, and we’ll bounce back stronger than ever.”

An optimistic response to an adversity would be:

“There’s no doubt that it was a rough week. This change threw us, and it showed. Remember, it was just one week. We made some mistakes, and we learned from them. Let’s apply those lessons and end the month on a high note.”

There are plenty of negatives everywhere people look right now. Help your team find and generalize the positives, so they see those too.

3. Hope is essential

Even amid adversity, optimists have a general belief that good things will happen and that their actions will lead to positive outcomes. They always have hope.

A leader’s ability to instill hope during difficult times is priceless. Without hope, people become apathetic. Give your team reasons to be hopeful, even if the current situation is difficult. Hope energizes people. As long as there’s hope for a better future, there is motivation to continue to try to get there.

Optimism is just one characteristic that will help you influence and ultimately lead your team through any adversity.

If you’d like to learn more, I invite you to look at our online, self-paced course,
Rising to the Challenge: Leading Through Crisis.

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Stressed? Distracted? Recharge With Microbreaks

recharge meditative image
We live in a fast-paced world, constantly attending to one distraction after another while trying to get real work done. Trying to keep up can be exhausting. When we don’t pay attention to our energy levels and take the time to recharge, our productivity, health, and relationships suffer.

When I talk with people about managing their stress and energy, it is common to hear them say that they understand the benefits of taking breaks, but they can’t afford the time. They fear that if they take a break, their performance will suffer. In an effort to get the maximum ROI from their time, they bankrupt their energy and their performance suffers anyway, because we need both time and energy to be productive.

If that rings true for you, microbreaks could be the best solution. Microbreaks are periodic 30-second to five minute breaks that give you small boosts of energy. Much like plugging in your phone for 5 minutes gives it a small boost but not a full charge, microbreaks will replenish your energy enough to get through another 60-90 minutes. They don’t take the place of longer breaks like lunch, but throughout the day they provide a cumulative effect that will improve your energy, attention, and memory without the anxiety of feeling you’re falling behind.

It is important to remember that not all breaks are created equal. Spending time with people who drain your energy will not recharge you. Taking a break to scroll through social media could actually deplete your energy because you’re not getting a break from screen time. Don’t be fooled into thinking you are recharging just because you are doing something unrelated to work. If your brain is being taxed, you are still using energy.

If you truly want to have a positive impact on your energy level and mood, it is important to take breaks that will provide those benefits. The ideal microbreak involves physical activity and mentally disconnecting from work and technology.

Five easy microbreaks you can easily incorporate into your day:

  1. Get Moving

    When we sit for long periods of time, everything – including our ability to think – slows down. Get up every hour and move. Movement gets blood flowing and improves both energy and mental clarity. This can be as simple as walking over to a colleague’s desk to talk rather than sending an email, taking the stairs, a walking meeting, stretching, squats or toe raises. Even five minutes each hour will get your blood flowing and increase your energy and productivity. Make a list of the things you can do given your specific work situation and choose something from that list every hour.

  2. Unplug

    We spend the vast majority of our day in front of one screen or another. Whether it is a computer, TV, phone, or a tablet, it takes a physical, emotional, and psychological toll. We tend to fill even the tiniest window of time with a check of our technology. Although many see a chance to watch a video clip or scroll through social media as entertaining or even relaxing, research suggests it might actually be depleting our mental energy rather than recharging us. So what is the solution in a world where we need to be connected? Make time to unplug whenever you can and give your brain a rest so you can boost your energy. Resist the temptation to fill every spare minute you have and, instead, just be. The next time you’re waiting, don’t reach for your device, simply stay present. Focus on what’s going on around you. What do you see, hear, and smell? Maybe even strike up a conversation with someone else who’s waiting. Remember, every opportunity you have to unplug is an opportunity to allow your brain to rest and recharge.

  3. Take a Mental break

    Meditation has gotten a lot of attention recently, and for good reason. In the short term, meditation can calm nerves and recenter focus. Over a longer term (6-8 weeks) regular meditation rewires the brain’s response to stress. It increases your self-awareness and enables you to respond more effectively to stress so you can use your energy in more productive ways.

    Meditation doesn’t have to be long or complicated. According to Mark Williams and Danny Penman in their book Mindfulness, even a 3-minute meditation will give you a meaningful mental break. We can all find time for that.

  4. Go outside

    A short walk outside where you completely detach from technology combines all three of these strategies into one power microbreak.

  5. Breathe

    In the event you’re stuck in a meeting or at your desk for prolonged periods, you can still reduce your stress and recharge. Taking deep, slow breaths can rapidly decrease stress and clear your mind. Just relax your belly, deepen your inhale, and exhale for a count of 5 or 6. The extended exhale sends your brain calming signals that dampen the fight-or-flight response.

One key to effective microbreaks is to take them before you need them. Schedule them throughout your day to get ahead of energy crashes and keep productivity high. To maximize the benefit of a microbreak, disconnect from work and technology and incorporate movement to get the blood flowing.

Recharging doesn’t happen naturally for most people anymore. We are constantly connected and reacting to one stimulus or another. That means we need to be more purposeful in how we recharge and manage our energy. The above strategies are proven ways for you to improve your focus and attention and to enhance your memory and learning. Pay attention to what works best for you and schedule regular microbreaks into your day.

recharge with mircrobreaks to avoid burnout

To influence and effectively lead their teams, leaders need to manage their stress, especially during times of adversity. Recharging with microbreaks is an effective way to manage stress, increase energy, and maintain focus. If you’d like additional developmental resources to help you, there are three options below.

  1. Consider registering for one of our online courses to dig deeper and accelerate your development
  2. Sign up below for our Newsletters for articles, tips, and announcements of upcoming events

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Dr. Heather JohnsonDr. Heather Johnson is a nationally recognized speaker with extensive experience developing leaders.  With a doctorate in Psychology and over 20 years of business experience, she works with leaders to quickly identify individual and team performance obstacles and develops customized solutions that lead to rapid change and lasting results. Heather facilitates public and in-house workshops that deliver personalized, practical, and immediate results.  Some of her most requested topics are: Influence, Emotional Intelligence, Team Building, Communication, and Strategic Planning. For more information call contact us here or call 651-322-7821.

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