Lessons About Teamwork and Persuasion Over The Weekend

Took part in a 2-day Persuasion Workshop over the weekend and had a fun time learning how to communicate persuasively. I last attended this same workshop some 20 years ago and so it was a great revision for me.

My team ended up as champion in the competition element of the workshop and here are some of the lessons I learnt that weekend:

𝟭) 𝗕𝗲𝗴𝗶𝗻 𝗪𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗘𝗻𝗱 𝗜𝗻 𝗠𝗶𝗻𝗱

A persuasive person always starts communication with the end in mind. If you know where you want the conversation to end, you can invite the other person to move forward in that direction by asking them the right questions.

𝟮) 𝗨𝗻𝗱𝗲𝗿𝘀𝘁𝗮𝗻𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗛𝘂𝗺𝗮𝗻 𝗕𝗲𝗵𝗮𝘃𝗶𝗼𝗿𝗮𝗹 𝗧𝗿𝗮𝗶𝘁𝘀 𝗜𝘀 𝗩𝗶𝘁𝗮𝗹 𝗜𝗻 𝗣𝗲𝗿𝘀𝘂𝗮𝘀𝗶𝗼𝗻

Different types of people behave differently and feel different about the same things. If you understand the different traits and can identify them in the people you are communicating with, you will a much higher chance of communicating effectively and achieving your communication goal.

𝟯) #𝗢𝗻𝗲𝘁𝗲𝗮𝗺 𝗦𝘁𝗮𝗿𝘁𝘀 𝗪𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝗠𝗲

We all know that the #oneteam spirit is important for the team to win but #oneteam starts with us. If we lead the way with this spirit, the team naturally follows. Many of my course mates mentioned that they saw the gaps in their teams but failed to speak up because they either felt they were not in the position to do so or thought they could wait for others to lead the way. Some were also too busy and anxious over why OTHERS were not doing more and forgot that they, too, can lead the way by example.

𝟰) 𝗘𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘆𝗼𝗻𝗲 𝗜𝗻 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗧𝗲𝗮𝗺 𝗖𝗮𝗻 𝗖𝗼𝗻𝘁𝗿𝗶𝗯𝘂𝘁𝗲

If you take the time to get to know people, you will find their gifts and natural strengths and as you give them permission to just do what they do best, they naturally shine and bring the team forward together with them. One our teamates was a very shy, 69 year-old lady but she really showed her commitment in winning together with the team by taking the initiative to collect the bento boxes for the whole team of 11 during our lunchbreak. That's no mean feat for a petite, elderly grandma. Everybody's contribution matters!

𝟱) 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗗𝗲𝘀𝗶𝗿𝗲 𝗧𝗼 𝗪𝗶𝗻 𝗧𝗼𝗴𝗲𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗿 𝗜𝘀 𝗜𝗻𝗳𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗼𝘂𝘀!

When we started out, only maybe 2 or 3 people in the team were serious or excited about winning. But these people gave their all fully to the team in their desire to win, everyone started to get excited and chip in to help achieve our goal.

𝟲) 𝗔 𝗖𝗵𝗮𝗺𝗽𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗧𝗲𝗮𝗺 𝗜𝘀 𝗠𝗮𝗱𝗲 𝗨𝗽 𝗢𝗳 𝗖𝗵𝗮𝗺𝗽𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀

You can't force a cow to drink from the river just as you cannot push people to desire to win. People naturally desire success but are only not moving towards it because they either don't remember that they are champions worthy of success or don't have the confidence or belief that it is possible to succeed. A great leader helps his or her team remember that they are champions and cheer for them along the way as they take little steps forward.

In summary, when we believe in ourselves, stay authentic and give our all, we naturally move forward with our team with ease and become champions. When we are clear about our goal for communication and understand who we are communicating with, we are naturally successful in achieving our communication goals.

From article I published in Linkedin


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