See Their Greatness

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See Their Greatness

To strengthen relationships with your stakeholders, focus on one simple intention: see another person’s greatness. This thought can transform your interactions. When you see someone’s greatness, you create a powerful connection, encouraging them to act positively toward you and others.

The Impact of Positive Perception

We’ve all experienced the opposite: being underestimated or viewed negatively. This often leads to feelings of frustration and harsh responses. On the other hand, seeing people’s greatness opens doors to new possibilities, elevating their words, actions, and impact. You might even transform their future.

For instance, 24 years ago my hairstylist Tony saw my potential as a teacher before I believed in myself. His belief in me led to an elevated life. Similarly, a client saw a 30-minute speech I gave and believed I could turn it into a four-day workshop for her leadership team. Her faith in my abilities led to a remarkable transformation in my work.

A Business Example

Let me illustrate the impact of seeing another’s greatness with a business example. Mary, a client, was handling global negotiations for a well-known supermarket chain. She faced challenging meetings about costs with a negotiator from a famous drinks company. The negotiator was pushing down prices and threatening to stop supplies, which could lead to customer complaints and loss of business. Mary felt stressed and angry, seeing the negotiator as a villain making her life difficult.

Shifting Perspectives

We have discussed the Hero and Mentor Mindsets, as well as the Hero-Villain-Victim triangle. Mary saw herself as the Hero, battling the Villain negotiator to save her company from being a Victim. I suggested she approach the meeting with a Mentor Mindset instead of seeing herself as the Hero. She found this difficult but agreed to try.

I explained that expecting the worst behaviour from others can escalate problems. While it’s essential to prepare for different outcomes, I encouraged Mary to see the world through the negotiator’s eyes. We considered what might be driving his behaviour. He might have been given a tough target by his boss, criticised for a previous negotiation, or dealing with company cash-flow problems. Recognising these possibilities helped Mary connect with his humanity.

Human Connection

We then discussed how Mary could approach the next meeting with the intention to connect on a human level. She needed to see the good in him while sticking to her price points and targets. She would ask about his current challenges and pose guiding questions about the future, such as “Given that we have to achieve X, what does a good version look like for you?” If he suggested something unreasonable, she would respond neutrally, asking, “Does that seem fair?” to prompt his reflection.

Staying True to Values

These strategies were about keeping Mary in a state of Lift. She would bring her best self to the meeting, maintaining her integrity and reputation. It worked. The negotiations went ahead with less stress and were resolved positively.

Commitment to Lift

Even if others don’t respond positively, the key is to stay true to your values. Don’t let others’ negative choices pull you down. Choose to lift yourself and commit to lifting the interaction. Be clear about what behaviour you will and will not engage in, both in intention and expression.

As Brené Brown explains, “Daring to set boundaries is about having the courage to love ourselves even when we risk disappointing others.” She also states that “connection is the energy that is created between people when they feel seen, heard, and valued; when they can give and receive without judgment.”

Leave all judgments behind in every conversation. If you can stay lifted under pressure, you will help others feel heard, value their perspectives, and see their greatness. You will create extraordinary connections and elevate interactions, embodying the true meaning of Lift.

Thank you for joining me for another LIFT Your Impact newsletter.

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This, and many other tools, exercises, and stories can be found in my new book Lift Your Impact, which is available here in the UK and here in the US! Bulk purchases can be made here .