In an address to Congress in 1961, President John F. Kennedy announced:
“I believe that this nation should commit itself to achieving the goal, before this decade is out, of landing a man on the moon and returning him safely to the earth.”
This was no small goal. The stakes were high.
America was in a technology race with the Soviets, and the United States wanted—and needed—to win to keep that rising empire at bay. There was also the issue of money. This would not be a cheap project.
Kennedy then took his case to the American people. He toured various cities giving speeches about advancements in space and the goal of putting a man on the moon. He gave interviews to television networks and newspapers. The President knew that he needed one thing to accomplish this objective.
He needed the buy-in of the American people.
On July 29, 1969, American astronauts landed on the moon, with Neil Armstrong becoming the first person to walk on its surface. Kennedy’s objective came to fruition. It was no longer just a dream or a goal—it was an amazing accomplishment.
You’re a leader. You’ve been given the task to lead a team and achieve certain metrics to be successful.
What’s your first move?
Some would think you must keep people accountable—announce the standards and due dates and keep everyone on track. Perhaps you roll out a checklist and gather the team every day to see what was accomplished.
Let’s be clear—that’s not the first step.
Your first step is to get the buy-in of your team.
They need to understand the goals. They need to know what the company will look and feel like when those goals are achieved. Create a clear picture of the future that everyone can gravitate toward.
Get their buy-in.
You can’t talk about the future just once. In every meeting, keep repeating where the company is going. Detail how the competition is making moves. Explain how achieving these objectives will benefit everyone.
When advancements are made, celebrate the wins. Be honest about setbacks. That will create—and maintain—buy-in.
There’s one more area where the team must have buy-in.
They must accept you.
They need to trust and respect you. The team must believe you can get them from where they are today to the vision of the future you’ve created. Without buy-in with you, they’ll never take a step forward.
If you’re a jerk, they’ll never trust you.
Lead with kindness, but don’t be afraid to hold people accountable. You’re not there to be their best friend. Your place is to drive results.
Results come from relationships.
Build the relationships.
Cast the vision.
Assign the tasks.
Equip the team.
Then get out of the way.
Get out of the ivory tower where you issue memos and decrees.
Be with your people. Walk the halls. Make phone calls. Preach the vision. Praise progress. Coach people forward.
Get their buy-in.
Only then can you achieve your goals.
Creating Unparalleled Experiences,
Chris Adams
Ellis Adams Group is always updating our blogs with the latest and greatest, view more below.
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