Creating Excitement for Progress

To make ideas happen you need to create excitement for progress.

Obviously, this isn’t always necessary, especially in a well-honed team. But we don’t always have the benefit of a well-honed team.

So our starting point is to get everyone else as excited for progress and achievement as you are.

Note: You’re excited for progress. You have to be. If you aren’t then it’ll be a big mistake to assume anyone else will be.

The best way to create some excitement is to state the objective that we’re all trying to achieve.

We call this our Vision.

Say how important it is that we achieve our Vision. Let your feelings show. Let people see that the Vision matters to you.

May I just say straight off - I really feel for our Vision. If we could achieve it - even part of it - here today - then it would really make a difference. It would be a great thing.

Say this - then keep quiet for up to 30 seconds while its import sinks into the room.

Don’t be afraid to use the word great. People like to be associated with great things. Like you, they want greatness too.

What you may notice is that people chuckle when they see how sincere and caring you are about the Vision. But this is chuckling with you, not chuckling against you.

A chuckle is their way of warming up to you.

Exercise 12:

Up to now, the exercises have been helping you to understand where you are, and why things are the way they are.

Keep the responses you made. They’re your baseline data.

You can refer to them in the future to check your progress.

You’re now ready for your first practical exercise. Hopefully it’ll be one you keep for the rest of your professional life.

In your next few meetings, state the Vision aloud to your colleagues.

Notice if people agree with your Vision

• Always

• Mostly

• Not so often

When you state the Vision, do it with feeling. Notice how often it feels easy to do this.

• Always

• Mostly

• Not so often

To help you, practice saying your Vision and how you feel about it. Do this in your own words. Your Vision statement should roll off your tongue by the time you get to your next meeting.

> How do you decide on a Vision