How to Get the Support of Others

05 Jul How to Get the Support of Others

How to Get The Support of Others

Liz Copeland

My client Liz Copeland has put together some excellent advice on hpow to get the support of others. This could work equally well whether you are making a business point or persuading your family to relocate to support a career move.

We’ve all experienced those moments when we announce a decision, and are disappointed by the reaction of those around us. What’s worse is that their negativity can then bounce back onto us. The result is doubts and what ifs that veer us off course.  Here’s Liz’s advice on how to cope with this…

You may have to do some work

It can take the wind out of your sails when people don’t take your ideas or intentions to change as enthusiastically as you might have hoped. But don’t forget that you are a few steps further on than them. Be prepared that this is a process that you almost have to coach them through.

You may also have to do some work on yourself to ensure that you are comfortable speaking out and standing up for yourself. You have to feel that your opinions and needs are important and should be respected. If this isn’t the case, you may need to do some wider work around self esteem first.

Let them express their emotions

Expect a whole gamut of reactions. They could range from fear (if you’re talking about sacking a major client for instance), to envy (they wouldn’t have come up your great idea in a month of Sundays). Let them have their chance to vent, but don’t let their emotions push you off course.

It helps to have clarity

You will find it much easier if you are 100% clear about why you are doing this and how it fits in with the values and overall goals of the company. This will give you a strong foundation from which to bat back opposition, or a strong conviction to put up a good argument for what you have decided to do.

You could make it a discussion

Rather than say that you want to target a new market, start talking about how you’ve always wanted to work with the health sector and see how other people respond and what tangible suggestions they put forward.

Start at the beginning

Rather than present them with a fait accompli, talk about how this campaign isn’t working as well as you thought it would  (but don’t imply that this is their fault) so that they understand your reasons behind it. Tell them that something is missing and see if they can help you come with some solutions.

If you have a big career decision to make, you can talk it through with visibility and career coach Paula Gardner here.