“For changes to be of any true value, they’ve got to be lasting and consistent.” ~Tony Robins.
“Beliefs have the power to create and the power to destroy. Human beings have the awesome ability to take any experience of their lives and create a meaning that disempowers them or one that can literally save their lives” ~ Tony Robins.
No man is an island. Personal success and development cannot be achieved in isolation. God has abundantly blessed us with people in our lives that we can rightly use to achieve our life’s purpose and goals.
Each and every person you have come across in your life has a part to play and it is entirely up to you to recognise that and help them to help you move closer to your life’s purpose.
In this article I discuss three important ways to empower our associates.
Firstly let me make mention that there are 3 groups of people in our lives;
- Close relationships – these will include your family, your friends, your spouse, and your children.
- Your work relationships – these will include your colleagues, workmates including your boss.
- Others – included in this category are people you come across every day.
You need to know how to interact with these people in order for them to help you achieve your desired life’s purpose and goals. The key areas I have identified are listed below.
Appreciation
There is no single person I have come across in my entire life that does not like or rather feels bad when they are appreciated. Appreciation is perhaps one of the most important aspects of getting people to like you and to inspire them to support and help your cause.
Develop the habit of expressing gratitude, even for the smallest acts of kindness. A genuinely simple smile and a heartfelt “thank you” goes a long way in lifting the other person’s spirit. The more thankful you are the more people are inclined to support you.
Always acknowledge the effort, even if what you received isn’t exactly what you requested. Make the other person feel appreciated for their service and assure them that their effort was valued and not wasted.
Appreciation lifts the self-esteem of human beings. The feeling of appreciation is an intense one and can make or break someone’s self-esteem. Imagine yourself working for a boss who does not seem to appreciate whatever effort you put into your work.
Imagine the frustration of dedicating countless hours to an assignment, only to feel completely unappreciated.
Now, contrast this with the feeling of being appreciated, even for your smallest efforts. You’ll find yourself willing to invest extra time because you know your work and presence truly matter.
Approval
Remember, everyone is primarily emotional. Everything that people do, or choose not to do, is largely driven by their deeper emotions.
Your job is to connect with their higher and more positive emotions so they feel so good about you that they want to help and please you in some way.
If you are in a supervisory position it will really help you to spend more time with your subordinates inviting their feedback and comments on their work. To achieve this, you must create a trust worthy environment.
This I believe is one of the best methods to get their work approved as they will understand what is expected of them.
There is nothing quite like the satisfaction of having your work approved by your manager. It makes you feel a true sense of ownership and pride in what you have accomplished.
Believe me, having a highly motivated worker can yield results beyond your imagination. The quality of your subordinates can make or break your success.
If your personal goal is very dependent on other people’s input you need to devise methods that are consistent and gain respect from other people.
You need to be nice, friendly, and courteous. I encourage you to read more on people management.
In life, you always have a choice. You can either do everything yourself or you can get others to help you do some of the work. Delegating work is surely key to helping you achieve more with your time.
Attention
The third and final aspect of empowering others is attention. Just like every one of us loves attention in one way or the other. Learn to listen with keen interest.
Pay attention to the details that keep people motivated and work to improve them.
If you have a difference with say a work colleague. Do not argue with them but reason with them. Listen to their explanation and make sure you understand the reasoning behind it. If you do not agree with them be polite in letting them know that you have a different viewpoint.
I have experienced this, especially with women. Even when they know that you cannot help them, they just want you to listen to them. All they are looking for is someone who can at least give them an audience.
The fact that you will give them the attention they need, will greatly improve their self-esteem. If you are married that is lesson number one for you. Give your wife all the attention she needs. Listen to her.
Conclusion
Your ability to delegate effectively, which requires that you inspire and empower others to help you willingly, will determine how fast you move ahead.
It will determine how much you earn in your job; this will also determine the quality and quantity of your productivity; it will determine your ultimate financial success in life.
The key to all of this is your ability to empower others. Life was meant to be lived with people.