You have a great idea that will increase revenue and improve profits, but you have a challenge on how to win over people. There will be the typical naysayers who will be able say exactly why it will not work. There may be supporters but can they overcome the negativity of the naysayers?

There are ways on how to win over people to help implement your great idea despite the negativity of naysayers.

Often people get carried away by a small group of people who are typically very supportive of initiatives that are rolled out. These people do not need winning over.

On the other hand, there are the naysayers who typically know all the reasons why an initiative will fail and are resistant to management initiatives. These people can really drain your enthusiasm and energy if you let their negativity get to you.

The good news is that you do not have to focus on the naysayers! The more you focus on them, the greater the power you are allowing this group.

Other than the supporters and the naysayers, there are a whole bunch of people, who form the greater number of your employees. The technique is to focus on these people.

They are neutral and with the right presentation of the initiative and the benefits it will bring to the organization, this group of people can be won over to help you implement the initiative. Remember to make sure you include benefits to the individuals to motivate them in making it a success.

Of course, the supporters will be a great help in moving this forward. Once the resistors see the rest of the organization supporting the initiative, there is little else they can do but to join in. If they really feel opposed to the idea, they may leave. That, however, may be better for the organization.

While the group of people to focus on is a key part of the technique, it is crucial that the leader is mentally tough. This is a key ingredient in winning over people.

Mental toughness is the ability to remain internally focused, relaxed, determined and confident in the face of the external stress that you will face. You need to be able to perform at your peak even under pressure.

Be mentally tough. Be determined and persevere against whatever objections and the related stress that comes with it.

This is possible if you are convinced that the initiative you are planning has been thought through and thorough. Your sheer belief that it can succeed will give you the motivation and the mental strength to see it through.

In driving the initiative, it is best to work on things that you have full or at least limited control. It is also important to let go of things that you cannot change.

Another point to note will be not to create any more resistance than is necessary by controlling every aspect. While you provide guidance for delegated tasks, make sure that you give enough freedom.

If there is any resistance, do not take it personally. The resistance is targeted at the initiative or the extra work that needs to be done.

If it is against the initiative, take this as a good sign as people are actually giving thought to it. Take some time to study this and you might get some valuable feedback that will help you improve on the initiative.

Resistance to the extra work and needing to learn new things is normal in any organization when change happens. Just go about your normal steps in managing change.

Consider these factors when you next think about how to win over people for the next initiative or project that you want to launch.

Tags:
Business Success,
Communication,
Home Business,
Personal Success,
Small Business

Source: Small Business

TEN Things To Do To Guarantee You Do Well In Tough Times.

(1) Have a positive/upbeat attitude. Its incredibly important to be positive and think long term. You can’ let the economy beat you down, or it will effect every area of your life. I recommend you don’t look at the news, or your stock accounts as often. Instead, think about how fortunate you are to have a business, which offers solid, reliable, products or services that are wanted and needed.Let customers know you value them and desire their business. Your attitude determines the altitude of your business, always!

(2) Realize that your marketing expense is necessary insurance to let potential customers know about you. When marketing remember…. show case your benefits. Explain how and why you are better than the competition, use the advantages of the internet to broadcast and troll for new customers.

(3) Start a Loyalty Shopping Dollars program to retain existing customers. Be the company that right now is giving away FREE products for a predetermined time just for being a valued customer. This is a huge edge over your competition and needs to be advertised.

(4) Historically in tough economic times, having staple products like (soap, shampoo, laundry detergent) i.e. necessities do better then most competing industries, so you have a recession proof business.

(5) Also, in bad times like in 1991, and 2001, when the stock market was hit hard, These staple products did well. The down times create a tremendous opportunity. Everyone you know now needs to beef up their retirement accounts, job security etc is in doubt. Spend more time then ever to develop your business now, as the dividends will benefit you for a lifetime.

(6) Set the pace for your business with new growth. If you are adding new customers consistently let your existing customers know it. Developing new client relationships, they are the rewards of positive marketing and work hard, let your customers know this.

(7) Take advantage of all the new marketing ideas online. Start a newsletter, and grow your customer base with information they will find helpful in solving their challenges. Offer incentives to earn their business.

(8) Appreciate where you came from, and strive to make your company SOLID. Watch out so you aren’t incurring debt. See your business prospering, growing, free of new debt, and thriving.

(9) Create a customer referral program. If you reward your existing clients with incentives you can capitalize on their circles of influence which will only strengthen your business.

(10) Expose yourself to Successful Leaders in other business arenas each week. One way to do that is to join a mastermind group. Iron sharpens iron and will inspire you to greater levels of success when you share and cultivate meaningful mentorship.

Tags:
Business Success,
Home Business,
Marketing,
Small Business

Source: Business Success

What does this mean? What is a Closed Mind?

Have you ever noticed - when you get a new car that you thought was “uncommon and distinctive” - that once you are driving around in it - just how many of then there are on the road!

Or - How you can manage to pick up on a conversation that piques your interest across a crowded room… Or even - just how stunningly attractive that person across the room is - and yes - they seem to have noticed you - how the rest of the people in the room fade into fuzzy insignificance.

We can somehow “Tune Out” the background noise and concentrate on just exactly the sounds we are focussed on?

Have you ever wondered how this happens?

Have you ever been frustrated that you can’t seem to find people wanting to listen to you about your product or opportunity?

The first examples are of an “Open Trained Mind” - The frustration comes from having a “Closed Mind” - or working with people that have a “Closed Mind” .

With a “Closed Mind” they never see the answer to their problem even though it may be staring them in the face; they never see the opportunity they are desperately seeking to change their financial situation. They never find new customers or new team members to recruit.

Try this simple test - Think of an uncommon luxury car…. Don’t make it too hard on yourself - Choosing a Zonda or a Mclaren F1 are probably not good choices - I tried this the other day thinking of a Mercedes CLK hardtop convertible - Silver of course…

When I got off the train in the city, I had to walk about 6 blocks to reach my appointment - and I was “convinced” that I would see this Silver CLK - and guess what? - After just 2 blocks - there it was! - stopped at the traffic lights while I waited to cross. I checked the tag on the back just to make sure it really was a CLK - and not an imposter.

Was I cheating? - was the Mercedes dealership right across the street fro the train station? - NO - and let me tell you - there aren’t too many CLKs in my city!

Why did I see it? There may have been a little “manifesting” - have you read or watched “The Secret” - Was the Law of Attraction working for me? - Possibly, but the real reason was simple that I was expecting to see one - and so my subconscious mind was tuned to see it..

At the base of our brain is the “Reticulum” - the section of our brain that filters everything that comes into our brain and directs the impulses to wither our subconscious brain or our conscious brain - By being “convinced that I would see a CLK”, I set the filter to search for a CLK - and when I saw one, I became aware of it.. If I hadn’t set the filter - I probably wouldn’t have even noticed it.

But what point is there in all this? - The driver didn’t get out and hand me the keys - they just drove off when the light turned Green…

Simple - By convincing ourselves of a Positive Outcome, we can achieve that positive outcome. If we “tell ourselves” that something will be difficult - like finding a new customer, or recruiting a new team member; nobody wants to know about my products, nobody wants to join my business team… Then that is exactly what we will get - No sales, No recruits. No Business. Failure…

On the other hand - If we go in with a Positive attitude - (Where have I heard that before???)

We will be more aware of the signals that people give us every day that they are looking for a solution to a problem that we can help them with - Either by purchasing our product or by joining our team. OK- so they won’t be queued up at your door as soon as you open it - but you will find that by “opening your mind to successful positive outcomes” - you will notice more and more of the “right kind of people” more opportunities to discuss what you have to offer.

Open your Mind to Success. Don’t open it to failure by keeping it closed.

Tags:
Business Success,
Personal Growth,
Personal Success,
Self Improvement

Source: Personal Growth