How to Get Team Support

How to Get Team Support
by Angela Brown

People support what they help create.

Whether you are planning a family vacation, soliciting a raise from your boss, or applying for a new job, you will be much more successful if you involve others in on your decision making process.

If you have seen the hit, reality TV show "The Apprentice”, you've most likely seen Donald Trump in the boardroom asking advice from Carolyn and George. He doesn't always take their advice but he wants to know their opinion. The secret is he listens, nods his head in acknowledgement and then he proceeds with a decision. Often he does take their advice but because he has listened, and acknowledged that he has heard them out, they then support whatever decision he makes.

I applied for a raise once, and realized that my boss (who was the actual decision maker) was more likely to give it to me if he knew why I needed more money and agreed that I deserved it. I took him to lunch and had a portfolio with me that listed all of the things I had learned since taking the job and explained why my skills were more valuable today then they were one year ago when I started with the company.
At the time, I was asking for a 30% raise, which was unheard of in the company at the time - especially for my lack of seniority there.

I began my lunch by ordering a light meal and then thanking my boss for the opportunities the company had provided me. I expressed my eagerness to learn and do more with the company and then shared my long-term vision.
In just one year, these are the things I have learned and the skills I have applied to my tasks. I also highlighted figures that showed him (or rather reminded him) how much money I had saved the company with my innovations. Beyond savings, here is how much more than my colleagues I've personally produced and if you schedule this type of productivity out into the future, I'm clearly an investment the company will want to make. At the rate of speed I'm progressing, I not only need some additional skills and training, but an assistant as well and some additional funds.

My boss was a little shocked at first at the unconventional approach to my getting a raise, and then he really got into it. Not only did I get the raise, the assistant, and several assistants over the course of a few years, and three additional raises, but the company paid for my continuing education and additional training courses.
My boss was very flexible with my schedule and he frequently asked if I needed anything else to help me with my goals.
Because he (and the company) was so good to me, I worked evenings, some weekends, made myself available to work tradeshows and other events, and gave my role at the company a 110% of my efforts. I was thrilled, they were thrilled and it was a win-win for everyone.

The reasons I tell this story is to illustrate the fact that people help support what they create. The company had "created me" and they felt an ongoing sense of success when they invested in me and my productivity and sales increased.

Here are some simple solutions you can apply today to get support from the team you are working with:

* Solicit the input from others.

* Listen to what they say.

* Acknowledge that you heard them and understand their reasons why.

* Ask questions to clarify that you understand correctly.

* Share your view and together find a way to incorporate both of your goals.

* Keep your team in the loop. Let them know when projections are met, when you need to change your game plan, and thank them regularly for just being there and being supportive.

* Give credit where credit is due. If there is one or two key people who help you get where you want to go - make sure you acknowledge them publicly and let them know you appreciate all they do for you. People support what they help create.

© 2005 Words of Wellness