NSGConnect Spark! – Building Better Connections through Listening
This quarterly email is sent to NSGConnect members to inspire self-reflection and discussions with colleagues relating to professional development topics. Add your thoughts on these topics on the NSGConnect Discussion Forum or find additional resources in the NSGConnect Library.
Influencing Without Authority
"A leader's job isn't to motivate people; it's to tap into people's sense of purpose. Motivation is the byproduct." ~Jordan Peterson
"3 Crucial Skills for Leading Without Authority"
Leading without authority is a style of leadership that blends personal and interpersonal skills forming the foundation of a leader's ability to impact, influence, and inspire others. This article lays out three skills to lead without authority:
- Empathic listening
- The ability to listen and respond empathetically
- Warm body language
- Positive eye contact, genuine smiles, open posturing, mirroring
- Positive emotions
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- Positive/negative emotions are highly infectious
- Logic and emotion are tightly connected and decisions made by people are most often not based purely on logic
- "We are all part of an emotional chain-reaction effect. As a leader without authority, you can influence and inspire your team by understanding that emotions drive performance."
Self-Reflection/Discussion
Reflect on a time when you led without authority. What skills did you apply? Which settings do you feel most comfortable to take charge in?
As genetic counselors, we are trained to be empathic listeners and to mirror body language. What other skills have you brought into your practice that help you lead without authority? What skills do you want to develop further?
How does taking on leadership roles and/or projects make you feel?
Additional Resources
- Infographic: A quick visual reminder about the Pillars of influence from medium.com
- Article: How to influence without authority in the workplace by Kelsey Miller from Harvard Business School Online
A Final Thought – Lessons Learned
To end this Spark! Memo, please take a listen to this commencement speech given by Admiral William McRaven at the University of Texas at Austin in 2014. Many of the lessons he teaches hold true to any position you hold now or in the future. Maybe you will hear about traits you already possess and maybe you will learn a lesson or two.
10 Lessons Learned, Admiral McRaven
University of Texas at Austin 2014 Commencement Address - Admiral William H. McRaven
- Start each day with a task completed; it will give you small sense of pride. The little things in life matter.
- You can't change the world alone, you will need some help. Find someone to help you through life.
- Measure a person by the size of their heart, not by the size of their flippers. Respect others.
- Life is not fair, and you will fail. Keep moving forward.
- Take risks.
- Step up when times are tough.
- There are a lot of sharks in the world, if you hope to complete the swim you will have to deal with them. If you want to change the world, don't back down from the sharks.
- At the darkest part of the project is a time when you need to be calm, composed. Must be your very best in the darkest moments.
- Give people hope. One person can change the world by giving people hope.
- Never ever give up.
This quarter's SPARK! Memo brought to you by Haley Keller with the editing help of Salma Nassef.
We welcome your feedback on these memos at salma.nassef@bcm.edu (Salma Nassef) or cbrooksms@gmail.com (Carol Brooks).------------------------------
Haley Keller CGC
Genetic Counselor
Cincinnati OH
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