Over my career I have had the pleasure to work with some truly brilliant and inspiring people. From Nobel prize-winning scientists, to elite athletes, via public figures in business and politics.
When working with someone who is a leader, a great communicator or maybe has a capacity to inspire others I always try and find time to work out how.
How do they lead? How do they communicate? How do they inspire?
What are they doing differently that elevates them above others or makes them standout?
It is an easy way to get better at many things. Simply by watching and learning.
But you don’t necessarily have to be in the room with someone to learn their processes, tricks and techniques.
Watching the TV, listening to the radio, attending talks, watching panel debates, reading newspapers or magazines can all shine a spotlight onto good practice of the top performers.
Why is that person so good at keeping your attention even though they are talking about a subject you normally have little interest in?
How are they persuading you even though you thought your mind was made up?
How have they got the audience waiting on every word?
Don’t worry, it doesn’t need to be a Nobel prize-winner, a CEO or someone else in the public eye who you learn from.
If one of your peers always nails it when they speak in your team meeting, ask yourself why?
If a junior employee in your company manages to get their ideas listened to while yours are ignored, what do they do that you don’t?
Why does that one person get asked time and again to lead presentations crucial to the growth of your company?
I’m not suggesting you observe others then aim to compete with them. Instead use what others are doing well to make yourself better at what you do.
Here is some homework for you:
- pick something that you want to be better at
- think of someone who does it better than you
- observe them in action, spot what they do differently that you can also do
- Turn that observation into action the next time the opportunity arises