Leadership is the ability to influence others. So, how are people influenced? Here’s six common ways people are influenced:
• Fear-based: The thought of or the application of negative consequences
• Reward-based: Rewards and use of positive consequences
• Intellectually-based: Logical rationale that persuades; uses facts
• Social-based: Peer and social influences
• Emotional-based: Appealing to emotions that motivate action
• Values-based: Connect to what is truly important to the individual
Leaders may use a combination of all of these over the course of working with their teams and people. AND, we find that a values-based influence tends to not only create the most buy-in but also the most stay-in or what we term “true commitment.” Ways of tapping into values-based commitment include:
• Clearly defining your organization’s mission, vision, and values
• Clarifying to people your own values and what is non-negotiable
• Engaging with your people regarding what’s important to them and what their values
• Consistently provide feedback that connects behaviors to values, results, and impact