Chad Maxwell | Lesson Three: winfluencing
Clive shared five powerful motivational lessons from Chad Maxwell (2009)
Clive. Sorry for the delay in lesson three. I have been on a sabbatical in Nepal to understand how Shiva’s teachings at the Pashupatinath temple can be applied to PowerPoint presentations. A lot of key nexus-points emerged, which I am boiling down into firm engagement idea-prompts for your final lesson.
Given my absence, and my belief that clients need constant attention so they don’t over-grow their self confidence without me; I have asked my colleague and ideas-marshal Veronica Bluster to outline her three top rules for Winfluencing which still stand as the best approach I know to maximum successtivation in persuassion-scenarios. Over to you Ronnie:
Dear Clive, some leaders influence; some leaders win: you are going to learn to winfluence. Profit leaders and thought-makers alike all say my course has transformed their action efficiency and project focus.
I will simply outline five rules that you can apply in these unsettling and ever-increasingly risk-ridden times, to ensure that you not only survive: you thrive through winfluence.
1. Prepare for all influencing situations in order to win(fluence): in all current and future and past business decision environments leading decision takers like you Carl cannot do everything yourself — as much as you would like to. We need to work through others. Sadly this involves persuading and cajoling people to do what you need them to do. We experts call this winfluencing. Think of every encounter as a game, a battle, a dual in which you much WIN. This will give you the inner strength to come through victorious. Your state of mind is everything.
2. Winfiltrate the minds of your opponents: each situation is different, but they are nearly always similar if not the same. Picture this. There I was at last months board meeting. The only mid 30s successful career women who still has her looks, against a room of overweight stressed out has been execs. I needed to persuade them to take a risk on a new venture I have been cooking up. Best designer shirt on I went into that room knowing what makes each of them tick and attacked, attacked, attacked. Be it Ralph, who we all know is having an affair; Dale with his secret love of dolls. All you have to do is find a weakness and go for it.
3. STOP: Sit down, Translate emotions into actions, Offer your inner mind a way forward and don’t forget your Posture: nothing in business cannot be overcome without an acronym. When you feel you are not maximising your winfluencing potential, then leave the room as soon as you can and STOP. Sit down and consider the full array of approaches — can you blackmail them? Have you threatened to talk to their superiors? Is there any way you could claim they are being sexist etc. Translate all those negative thoughts into actions. Write down three things you are going to do when you re-enter the theatre of war. Surprise them if you can, shout a quick mantra or pull out a trusty quote from Rik Wagoner (see my online bookshop for a handbag sized book of Modern CEO Quotes). This will Offer your inner-mind, your real mind, a way forward to go on to success. Finally readjust your posture, stand tall, push out your chest(s) as far as they will go and stride back in ready to WINFLUENCE.