Challenging the Status Quo
Enrolling Others
"Whether they are at an airline or at a command center, experts will err on the side of excluding the public, as we have seen. If they can avoid enrolling regular people in their emergency plans, they will. Life is easier that way, until something goes wrong"
- Amanda Ripley -
Enrolling others in your vision is key to gaining buy in and trust. Co-creation energises, gains commitment, and provides direction. Ownership enables trust and responsibility, so you will need to be ok with changing your vision and allowing others to shape it. When you bring others into your process of initiating change, they may have some ideas you have not thought of yet.
HOW TO ENROLL OTHERS
Involve others early
Receive more than you transmit
Look for mutual interests
Share all you know
Create a shared vision
HOW TO DEVELOP IT
If you want to enroll people in your ideas, put more emphasis on receiving. Ask open ended questions that give your colleagues space to think aloud and share what is most important to them. Show that you are processing what they are sharing. Incorporate their needs and ideas into yours.
Even though most of us do not like to be sold to, many of us regularly engage in selling our ideas or initiatives at work. And how effective is that? All too often, the answer is, “Not very.” A better way to make progress on your most important priorities – do not sell, enroll.
Here are five simple steps you can take to start enrolling:
Involve Others Early
True enrollment requires trust. You build trust by bringing people in early. Good partners will be looking for the opportunity to influence the big initiatives before they became fully baked. Involvement is the first step to enrollment.
Receive More Than You Transmit
As a communicator, you can either be a transmitter or a receiver. If all you want to do is sell your ideas, go ahead, and transmit away. If you want to enroll people in your ideas, put more emphasis on receiving. Ask open ended questions that give your colleagues space to think aloud and share what is most important to them. Show that you are processing what they are sharing. Incorporate their needs and ideas into yours. That is another behavior that builds the trust that enrollment requires.
Look for Mutual Interests
Look for the win/win opportunities that come from identifying mutual interests. Ask yourself, “What’s in it for them?” and then verify or improve upon your idea through collaborative conversations.
Share All You Know
Share what you know and put it out there. You will either influence your colleagues’ thinking or you will learn what their concerns are (or both).
Create a Shared Vision
Co-create a shared vision of the future that connects with people’s sense of purpose. Work with your colleagues to sketch out a picture of what the future looks like when you implement your improved-upon idea.
These steps lead to a collaborative approach not a heroic approach. It requires more patience but yields more sustainable and meaningful results. Going it alone and reaping all the credit and accolades is a valid choice but not one we recommend.