Why Your Problem Isnt Solved Yet: transforming indifference into "Buy In"

Have you ever found your team drowning with all sorts of problems? You're sure that with a few changes, everything could get better. Maybe you have a cool app or some advice that you're convinced would solve everything, but nobody seems to listen to you. You suggest helpful ideas, and people just shrug them off or roll their eyes. Sounds familiar?

Why does this happen? Well, the real issue here is that you haven't gotten everyone to agree on what the problem is. Let’s dive into what that means and how you can turn things around.

Understanding the Problem 

Just because you think something is a problem, doesn’t mean everyone else agrees. You might be focused on an issue, but others might have different, maybe even bigger, problems that need solving first. That's okay! It's normal for people to see things differently. 

So how do you get everyone to see eye to eye? It’s all about figuring out if the problem you’re worried about is the same one they care about.

How to Gain Agreement

The trick is to be open and ask questions. Try to understand the problem from their perspective. Have conversations, listen, and make connections. Ask yourself: is the problem I see the same one they care about? This approach is the key to getting everyone on the same page.

Here are some pointers to get started:

1. Start a Conversation: Talk to the people involved. Ask them what’s kicking them in the face?

2. Listen Carefully: Pay close attention to what they say. They will reveal issues you haven’t considered.

3. Share Your View: Explain the problems you see, but only to understand if they agree. Don’t rush them or force your opinion.

4. Serve them first: Leverage your skills & influence towards addressing the problems that are bringing them the most grief. And know this is building you social currency for addressing the problem that has your attention.

Following these steps will help you identify if your problem is their problem too. And once there's agreement, you can work together to fix it.

Reflection for Growth 

Think about past times when you felt frustrated because nobody took your advice. Could it be that you didn't agree on the problem? Recognizing this can be a big step in improving how you handle these situations.

Remember, be patient with yourself. Change takes time. Stay cool, and keep trying. You've got this!

ps, have you been looking for a way to take control of your schedule and stop neglecting yourself? Drop #DotheDamnthing in the comments to let me know

This bit is here for all you awesome folks that enjoy reading. Be warned I am the author which means grammar, spelling, and punctuation are not the focal point of these blog entries😉

Leadership Skills are this big subjective thing that we have largely confused with optics and being the loudest person in the room. And its as easy as answering 1 question:

- Do People Follow you?

People follow people they trust, we follow people that help us grow, and make us feel valued. And you can cultivate your skills of influence, impact, and connection. But you gotta put in the work.

If you🫵 are up for boosting your Leadership skills or maybe you have some "up and comers" on your team but you just dont have time to help them reach their potential, check out The Emotional Bungee Jumpers.

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