Deliver One Message at a Time, No More!
"What do you want to achieve when you meet with your boss?" the coach asked her client, who looked confused at the question. "Well," he said. "I'm not so happy about my job. I'm a bit bored, to be honest. And it's been ten months since my last raise. I think Bill and Sarah both make more money than me, even though they are younger. Is that fair? Also, it's hard for me to work past six at night, I have bowling league twice a week."
If you were this coach, what would you tell your client?
I'd say you need to pick ONE message and focus on it.
If you're not so happy with your job, the odds are that your boss and others are seeing signs of this. Maybe you're not working with as much energy as others display. Perhaps you're getting sloppy, or you seem disgruntled.
Before asking for a raise, you should make certain that your performance justifies more money. If not, you are simply setting yourself up for rejection.
To make matters worse, if you want:
a.) More money
b.) Shorter work hours
c.) Something more interesting to do
d.) To be paid more than your peers
Maybe you are in the wrong profession. These are not signs of a person who is pursuing his passion, or secure that he is making a difference in the world, or even in his small corner of a business.
One message at a time is my cardinal rule.
Whether I am writing an article, pitching a new client, or trying to offer my kids advice, I always follow a simple rule: one message at a time.
Most people don't do this.
Read 20 articles on LinkedIn, HuffPost, personal blogs, or elsewhere... and you'll probably come across 50 or 60 messages.
The more messages you offer at one time, the lower the odds that any of them will be effective.
To follow my rule, you have to focus. You have to decide in advance: what do I want?
Do you want to inspire or inform? Persuade or reassure? Get more money or more respect? The list goes on and on.
Just because you pick one option today doesn't mean you abandon everything else. It just means you will focus on one thing you want until you get it, and then you can focus on something else.
Most importantly, when you are done with your #1 objective, stop. Don't keep going on, and
Need my help? You can get in touch with me here.
Sales Manager at Rural Pipe & Supply
8 年excellent
Melih Oztalay Improves Digital Marketing Results | $30M+ generated for clients | Helping businesses increase by 200% their website conversions by optimizing their landing pages & CTAs
8 年This reminds me of how to make presentations because people remember what's in the beginning and then what is at the end...probably more what is at the end. Keep it simple and know what it is you want people to walk away with.
To Learn as much as I can and to make an Impact wherever I go.
8 年HI Bruce yes, there T oo many messages out there. We don't even have the time to answer all.. of them in good time..Thanks for this article.. Be Blessed. !Kind Regards Irma Thierry
It comes down to KISS: Keep It Simple [multiple choice last word]. Rattling off a list tends to make listeners defensive.
Manager, Manufacturing Engineering and CNC Programming at Precision-Technologies
8 年Great post Bruce. I had the privilege of reading and being instructed on "Taking Time Out for Mental Digestion" by Rawls. I was turned into this great little booklet by my mentor David A. Waliszewski, PE, CPIM who is a wiz at leaving you hungry for more information. Too often we try to dump everything that is in our head on a person and in the process lose their interest and their hunger to help all together.