How does a leader gain buy-in at a new organization and with new people?
As I join a new organization, I understand the need to move slowly. Someday, I will express ideas and potential changes. The thought of people buying into new ideas crossed my mind. So, I decided to page through John Maxwell’s book, The 21 Irrefutable laws of Leadership. I specifically was looking into the Law of buy-in. I wanted to share the steps I was reviewing that Maxwell highlighted from his book. It all starts with earning trust among the individuals of the organization. I hope this post helps others who are currently stepping into a new role.
Relationships are key. If the people don’t trust the leadership of the organization most things will fail. It is important for leaders to build relationships and try to take care of those relationships by making them strong and impenetrable. New leaders must work in an outward pattern. Find the people closest to your role to build strong bonds and then work outwardly, to gain the trust of the entire organization. Leadership is doomed to fail if we have people who we haven’t connected with.
People respect a leader who is a straight shooter. The importance of honesty plays a large role in gaining buy-in. Being honest with everyone is not an easy task. Your honest responses will offend others, make the decision process difficult, and make people mistrust you. This is inevitable. Your honest interactions will take some time for others to get used to. Over time the people will appreciate your honest responses, even when they disagree with your views.
Great leaders want their people to grow. Everyone within an organization aspires to improve in their personal growth. Leaders should get to know the dreams of their people. We must allow others to achieve their dreams and goals. When we want people to buy in to our ideas, we must be willing to share in their excitement as well. The goals of others have the potential to help a leader and the organization. Until we know what those goals are we can’t understand the potential benefit for everyone.
Every organization has key players who want it and the people to flourish and be successful. A great leader develops other leaders that make the organization better. Stepping into a new role, we will find individuals who know more about past practices and who have established relationships. When we find that positive person, we need to leverage their experiences for the benefit of everyone. Additionally, when a leader can develop other leaders, it gives them more opportunities to delegate tasks.
How will you gain the trust of everyone in your organization?
How will you continue to work with those who disagree with your views?
How will you allow your people to grow and achieve their goals?
Who are the potential leaders you could leverage?
Beginning something new is exciting. I have been onsite for nearly two weeks, so there hasn’t been a lot for everyone to buy in to yet. Not to mention many of the people are off for the summer and no major decisions have been made yet. There will be a day, when I need people to see the vision and buy into it. Before that is allowed, work must be done on my part. I hope you are working on building that trust among your people or organizations. I plan to do a lot of work on the front end, to pave the way for positivity. Thanks for looking in on this post and I hope you leave a comment that contributes to this conversation. Have a great week!
Steven C. Bucks- Leading Conversations
~Maxwell Leadership Certified Team Member~
Resource:
Maxwell, J. (1998). The 21 Irrefutable Laws of Leadership: Follow them and People will Follow You (10th Anniversary Edition). HarperCollins
Good one Steven.