What’s Your Phrase?
Everyone has a phrase that means more than anything else to them.
We all want to be encouraged, but how we receive encouragement varies from person to person. As a leader, it is vital that you know how the team members you work with want to be lifted up. There is a phrase or certain words that mean more to them than others.
Encouraging everyone the same way doesn’t work. For one, it can come across robotic and not personal to others. Second, encouraging everyone with the same words doesn’t take in to account the uniqueness about the person you are intending to inspire.
When you know someone’s phrase it can become a trigger you can use to spur them on. I don’t mean this in a disingenuous manipulative way, but in a way that becomes a hot button of motivation. It becomes an instant source of value for the receiver.
So how do you discover someone’s phrase?
1) Listen To What They Value
You know what someone values by how much they talk about it. What do they keep coming back to again and again? Repetition develops
2) Test Their Phrase
Don’t be afraid to try out what you think their phrase is. Watch how they respond. When you use their phrase it will cause a reaction of some sort, big or small. People can’t help but physically respond with a smile, blush, or better posture when they hear what means the most to them. Pay close attention to how they respond to your words, and notice the subtle signs they give, clueing you in on what matters most to them. In the same vein, take note as to what doesn’t spark their interest. You might work really hard on something that makes no difference at all to them. Don’t waste time on things that don’t matter or that fail to get points up on the board.
3) Ask Them
Maybe this one should have been first…If you are having a hard time deciphering someone’s phrase, simply ask them what means the most to them. Get them to define their motivational hot button that they aspire to hear because of their effort. Getting to know what fills someone’s motivational tank is a sign of great leadership. The more you know your team members the more you can grow them into strong players. Ask them how they would like to be lead and what matters most to them and then capitalize on it in a genuine way.