Mastering The Power Skills

You might be in the running for a promotion or to head a new project in your organization, for example. Or you might be a candidate for a great job in a completely different organization. Whatever the context, you're likely to face this question several times in your career, and it's always a good idea to wow people with your answer.

You want to get off to a good start with everyone excited and enthusiastic about what you're going to do in the role. So what is the question that gets asked? It's this, what is your plan for your first 90 days? Or sometimes it's another variation, like what is your plan for your first year or something similar.

The First 90 Days by Michael Watkins - Purchase on Amazon

What you’ll hear in this episode

• How the ability to create rapport quickly lessens the risk of pitching your ideas cold to strangers.
• The magic of a few simple word choices.
• How shifting the conversation to the future or to the past creates a shared experience and a deeper connection.
• The one question that encourages colleagues to be collaborative….and even grateful.

Imagine a workplace where you and your colleagues are “in sync” with each other. You may not always share the same opinions or agree on what should be done. But you know, like, and trust each other. You’re invested in each other’s success.

That’s a workplace where people have rapport. Not only does it create for a more rewarding environment on a day-to-day level. It also leads to colleagues wanting to be supportive and helpful when you move your ideas forward.

But creating good relationship can be slow and time consuming. In this episode, Kathy shares some easy and not-so-common tips you can use to supplement your own efforts and accelerate the process of building rapport.

What you’ll hear in this episode:

• How influence helps you to create an environment in which YOU are taken seriously.
• Why persuasion is about having your IDEAS taken seriously.
• What presence is, and the connection between presence and how you are perceived
• Why cultivating these skills makes it easier for other people to understand the value of our ideas….and increases our win rate.

What you’ll hear in this episode:

• How conflicted feelings about power cause good people to avoid bringing good ideas forward
• Why the original Latin word for power wasn’t negative at all.
• The secret link between power and potential.
• The mindset shift from “command-and-control” to “creation and generation”.
• How you can grow your power by growing your skill in influence, persuasion and presence.
• Why your intent is important when you exercise power.

What you’ll hear in this episode:

• How talking and writing are ALREADY the greatest portion of your job.
• How this means that small efforts to take these skills to the next level can natually result in big results to your work performance and leadership.
• How words and language can rewire your brain so that your insight, judgment and skills in OTHER areas improve as well.
• Why working on words and language gives busy leaders the highest return on their investment of time

What you’ll hear in this episode:

• Why most episodes will focus on easy-to-use tips
• How reflecting occasionally on mindset will take your abilities from merely competent to masterful, in much the same way as it does for a high-performance athlete
• Why the first few episode will explain some foundational concepts around “words”, “power”, and “influence, persuasion, and presence”