Motivation on the Run

What a super hour with Marshall Goldsmith on the teleconference. Marshall shared many ideas and thoughts on management and leadership, but the focus was on the topic, “How do I influence up in my organization?”

Here are some of the ideas I gleaned from the call and maybe they will help you, as well.

Guidelines for Influencing up:

1. When presenting ideas to upper management, realize it is your responsibility to sell, not their responsibility to buy
2. Focus on contribution to the larger good, not just for the achievement of your objectives
3. Strive to win the big battles
4. Present realistic cost benefit of ideas, not just benefits of ideas.
5. Always challenge up on issues of ethics and integrity and be prepared to leave, if necessary.
6. Realize upper managers are just as human as you are. Where is it written that all leaders are rational and sane? Money and power makes them … human, just like us!
7. Treat upper managers with courtesy and kindness, just like you would a good customer.
8. When the final decision is made, never say, “They made me tell you” or worse, “That stupid boss made me tell you.”
9. Try to make a positive difference, don’t get lost on winning or being right. Let go of your own ego.
10. Focus on the future, let go of the past

A couple more good tidbits from the mind of Marshall:
What do you do if you don’t like your boss?

• leave
• while you are there, treat the boss like a good customer

What is the difference between a customer and the boss?

• focus on what you can change
• make peace with what you can’t change

“Get over being a victim.” Instead ask, “How can I make a positive difference?”

“Help more, judge less!”

How do you know what the boss really wants? MG: “Ask!”