Understanding why people reject your idea

A great example from history is Galileo who claimed that the sun was at the centre of the solar system. Did everyone celebrate the idea, did people welcome this thought, did he get promoted(!) at his next appraisal?

Far from it, he faced persecution from the Church. Why? Was it the idea that they rejected, no it was how the idea made them feel, it would not have mattered what was at the centre they were thrown as someone was advocating a theory that was different to theirs.....years go by and the principle stays true.

Make sure that you understand that to be successful in convincing people of an idea, you must address their feelings, their preconceived ideas, their sense of holding on to the past. Then present the idea as a solution to an existing problem - not as a revolutionary idea that will change the centre of their universe.

People reject what they don't understand, they fear big change...to get an idea accepted you need to ease the audience into the future....

Creating Change in Business

You can create the behaviour that you want as a leader.

"One evening an old farmer was walking along a country lane. He looked into a field and saw a group of young women bathing naked in a pond. The woman noticed him at about the same time as he noticed them.
One woman shouted "We're not coming out till you leave"
The farmer replied with a grin "Oh, I'm not here to watch you ladies swimming naked or running round the meadow naked....I'm just here to feed the alligator"

The farmer created the potential for a change in mindset. He thought about the context, the situation and thought of something that was valuable to the women - their life. What are your alligators?

How to make mergers work

Today, most people will go through an acquisition, change program or merger. Here is my tip for creating success through this time

• Focus should be on the skills and abilities of the talent available not on the process itself.
• Look for unique items not similarities.

Why?

Well it is people that will create the success.....where is the talent and how can you engage their minds in creating the future.

Concentrating on similarities ends up as a lose lose, as people will have to compromise and also it won't work for the differences...and remember the differences will have made the company unique and successful. Look to embrace the originality and build a process that protects it.