You Can Change Their Behaviour Without Giving Them Orders
The Art of Influential Leadership.
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Happy Tuesday, and welcome to my JOURNALS.
A few years ago, a senior colleague shared with me a straightforward yet effective leadership strategy called:
View, Thought, Action
This method says that if you want someone to change how they act in a particular situation, you need to:
First: Help them VIEW the situation from a different (your) angle.
Second: This, in turn, will change how they THOUGHT about the situation.
Third: Which then will naturally lead them to do different (desired) ACTIONS.
A common mistake that we all make - “Telling People what to do.”
“Telling” doesn’t always get results.
Well, unless you have the power to fire people, it most certainly won’t work.
And sometimes, even that power is powerless.
Let’s walk through an example.
Let's say you're in charge of keeping a SpaceX site clean.
Yes, that SpaceX!
You have a janitor who's not mopping well and missing spots.
You might be tempted to say, “Mop better, don’t miss any spots.”
This might work at times, but not always.
The janitor might see your requests as an unnecessary fuss. In his eyes, a few missed spots might not be a big deal.
And here's where the View, Thought, Action method comes into play.
The current VIEW of the janitor: His job isn’t important. He thinks his effort in mopping doesn’t really matter, leading to his inconsistent work.
The desired VIEW: He thinks his job is important. What he does contributes to something big.
To make this change happen, you focus on changing how he VIEWS his role.
You say something like:
“Do you know, what we do here at SpaceX is groundbreaking? Every single job, including yours, plays a crucial role. We're on a mission to change the future.”
"Our scientists, engineers, and pilots work in a high-stakes environment. They need a safe space to focus. And believe it or not, a clean floor contributes to making it a safe space.”
"Dirt, spills, or slippery surfaces can cause accidents. We can’t risk a pilot slipping or a scientist getting injured. That could delay our projects and affect our mission.”
"Your role, keeping the floors clean, is therefore very important. It’s not just about mopping. It’s about ensuring safety, supporting our team, and contributing to our mission to Mars.”
“Can you see now why a clean, safe floor is important?”
By helping him VIEW his job as important, you helped him change his THOUGHTS about his work.
Which led to a change in how he ACTED and did his job.
To summarize:
When you help someone view a situation differently, it automatically alters their thinking, leading to a change in their actions.
Most of us do not have the power to fire!
So we have to rely on our power to influence.
Good leadership is all about guiding others to see things differently, think in new ways, and then act accordingly.
The View, Thought, Action method is a valuable tool.
You don’t have to give orders and force people to take action.
You can change perspectives and inspire better actions.
Till next time.
Vibhor xx
3 Pieces of Advice
Here are 3 things that I thought about a lot last week.
1. Boredom is not bad
It's important that we start treating boredom as a normal part of our lives.
You may have noticed that some of your most creative moments occur during times when you're bored.
For example, when you're out for a walk, taking a shower, or even having dinner alone.
When you're bored, your mind has the opportunity to wander, and in that space, your thoughts can mix and mingle. That's when insights can strike. Boredom has the potential to create opportunities for luck.
So, try to make time for more walks without technology, go for more drives, or simply sit quietly and think. You'll never regret it.
2. Give Without Expectations
The best things in life come to those who create value without expecting anything in return.
I'm not sure exactly how it works, but when you emit positive energy, it usually returns to you—often in multiples.
So, be authentic and add value to others.
You will witness good things happening.
3. Eliminate Negativity
It is common to have negative people in your circle who discourage you from pursuing your goals, laugh at your ambitions, and argue with you.
It is best to eliminate such negativity from your life. It acts like a black hole, dragging you down and sapping your energy.
Therefore, it is best to cut ties with negative people and run away from them as fast as possible.
My Favourite Things This Week
Book - 'Thinking, Fast and Slow' by Daniel Kahneman
I recently read 'Thinking, Fast and Slow' by Daniel Kahneman.
Like 'The Elephant in the Brain,’ it shows us the hidden reasons behind our decisions.
The book talks about two ways our brain works.
System 1 is quick and based on feelings. System 2 is slow and thinks carefully.
Kahneman explains how these two systems sometimes fight each other. This can make us make mistakes.
It’s a great book for anyone who wants to understand their mind better and make smarter choices.
Podcast - Leadership Lab Podcast: Episode 220 - Unleash the Mutant Learner in You with Treion Muller
In this episode, Muller discusses the concept of the "mutant learner" - someone who is constantly evolving their learning strategies and adapting to new information. He shares practical tips on how to become a more effective learner, including:
Embracing the mess: Learning is not a linear process. Be OK with feeling lost and confused at times.
Developing a growth mindset: Believe that you can learn anything, and don't be afraid to challenge yourself.
Seeking out diverse perspectives: Expand your learning by engaging with people who have different backgrounds and experiences.
Experimenting with different learning methods: Find what works best for you, whether it's reading books, listening to podcasts, or taking online courses.
Becoming a learning mentor: Share your knowledge with others and help them develop their learning skills.
It’s packed with valuable insights for anyone who wants to become a more effective learner and leader.
Quote of the Week
"Nothing in life is as important as you think it is while you are thinking about it."
From Thinking Fast And Slow: by Daniel Kahneman
This quote is about something called the “focusing illusion.”
It means that when we think about something, we often blow its importance out of proportion. Like zooming in too close on a picture, making us lose sight of the bigger scene.
When something is on our minds, it feels huge, but once we step back, we see it's just one piece of a much larger puzzle.
This is a mind trick where our current thoughts grab the spotlight, making other important things fade into the background. It's a reminder to not get too caught up in the moment and to see the bigger picture.
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Here, I try to give you Career, Progress, and Self-Development insights as I learn them myself.
Wish you a successful career journey ahead.
Until next week 👋
“I share things I wish I knew in the starting years of my career in the corporate world."
Vibhor Chandel