My 2 Bitcoin Cents: How to Influence Management
(Highlight the benefits, Focus on the fundamentals, Support with data)
👋 Hello, I’m Carlos, and welcome to my newsletter, “The Holistic Leader” Raw notes from an Agile Coach. Share your questions with me here, and in exchange, I'll provide practical, grounded, and clear advice.
Today’s Overview:
Want to influence management?
Think of two doors: a big door for big plans and a smaller door for quick, easy changes.
— The big door (Strategic)
— The nugget door (Impact)
This article will show you why small steps can make a big difference and help you get support from management. Learn how these quick wins can help you make real improvements. Keep reading to find out how!
How to Influence Management
When it comes to influencing management, it's like having two doors to choose from: the Big Door and the Nugget Door.
The Big Door (Strategic)
This door is like the main entrance of a huge building. It's impressive and leads to big ideas and long-term plans. You use this door when you need to talk about major changes or future goals, especially with top leaders or when the whole company needs a new direction.
The Nugget Door (Impact)
Now imagine a smaller, side door. It might not look as fancy, but it's easier to open. This door is all about making small, powerful changes that show results quickly. These small wins are great because they help people see improvements right away, without waiting for big plans to happen.
Choosing the right door depends on the situation, but often, the Nugget Door is effective because it lets you prove your ideas work through quick, visible improvements.
Why Choose the Nugget Door?
Less Risk: Smaller initiatives mean lower stakes, making it easier to try new things.
Immediate Results: Quick wins keep the team motivated and supportive, showing the benefits of change right away.
Easier to Understand: Simple, straightforward actions are easier for everyone to get behind.
How to Use the Nugget Door Effectively
Highlight the Benefits: Clearly show what everyone will gain from the change.
Focus on the Fundamentals: Work on the basic elements and explain why they matter.
Build on Momentum: Use early successes as a foundation for ongoing improvement.
Support with Data: Back up your initiatives with clear, concrete data to show their effectiveness.
Find a Small Win: Identify a simple improvement that can be quickly implemented and visibly demonstrates value.
My Favorite Door? The Nugget Door
As an Agile coach, I've learned that while top-down approaches can initiate change, real impact happens at the ground level.
It's crucial to understand the people involved in making these changes:
Team Dynamics: How do team members interact with each other?
Operability: How well can the team implement these changes?
Systems Improvements: What can be made more efficient?
Perception of Change: How does the team view change?
Ways of Working: How does the team function daily?
Team Struggles: What challenges are they facing?
Change: How to best manage and implement it?
Dysfunctions: What isn't working well?
Team Motivations: What drives them?
By using the Nugget Door approach, we focus on impactful, manageable changes that collectively build a path to larger goals that can influence Management effectively (Indirect influencing)
Final Thoughts💡
Remember,
Influencing management is about making real, tangible progress, not just presenting grand visions.
Keep it simple, direct, and honest, and you'll open doors to effective change.
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Thanks for reading
See you next week!
- Carlos ✌️
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