Win people over

I attended a meeting to train people (not in my company) how to do their jobs, because things were not going as they should.  First I told them “I am here as a friend, I come in peace, and I respect who you are and what you are doing.”  Then I spoke to them with respect as we reviewed what could be better, and painted a picture of who they could be to their customers and the world in a way that they would see as better – a world with pride and winning.

When we want to help people see what they aren’t doing well and to get better, it’s important not to win over people, but to win them over instead.

I spoke after the owner of the company where he took full responsibility and “blame” for the shortcomings.  he took it for the team by saying he didn’t train them well enough or follow up with how things were going.

Nobody left the room feeling that they were being attacked, embarrassed or unappreciated.

It doesn’t matter who is right.  Win people over so they accept your ideas.