Too often as a leader, I think my job is to educate those I lead. Honestly, if I step back and look at most of my coaching and mentoring of others, I am not telling people anything they haven’t heard before.
“People need to be reminded more often than they need to be instructed.” -Samuel Johnson
This quote tells me that as a leader, I need to be the chief reminder not the not the font of all worldly knowledge! True learning doesn’t happen because I flood my mind or the minds of others with information.
True learning occurs through repetition. We learned our multiplication tables in this way. It is also the best way to help others internalize concepts that they need in order to change their behaviors at work or at home.
Applying The Rule Of Seven To Leading
A few years ago, I realized my words were not having impact on my team. I was consistently reading and sharing new information with them. The principles I was espousing were good. The problem was they lacked staying power.
I realized I had forgotten one of the truisms of sales.
The Rule Of Seven: A customer will change their buying habits only after they hear your message seven times.
As a leader, my customers are the people I am called to lead. If I want them to change their habits, they must hear my message at least 7 times. Therefore my job is to remind more than it is to teach!
Yet we all do it. We all think that just because we say something, others will internalize it and make changes.
Failures In Reminding
- Once: A basketball coach who explains a new defense.
- Once A Year: A business owner who talks about his company’s core values.
- Once A Month: A preacher who speaks on a key doctrine of faith.
- Once A Week: A dad who tells his son to stand up straight.
As I look back and examine why I have failed to be better at reminding, these are the excuses I have used in the past:
I’m a good communicator.
That’s pretty prideful for someone people aren’t listening to or following.
They heard me the first time.
They may have heard me, but did they listen? Remember The Rule of Seven.
I’m tired of saying it.
Who cares? Am I here for my enjoyment or for their growth?
They have to be tired of me saying this.
Maybe, but it is the things I got tired of my parents saying to me that I remembered and learned.
To read more on communicating your values click on the following title:
Your Vision, Mission and Values are Worthless
To Be Memorable: I Follow These Principles
1. Keep It Simple And Focused
If everything is a priority then nothing is. I must maintain focus on a critical few priorities if I truly want to see a change occur.
2. Repetition, Repetition, Repetition
If it is important enough to call it a priority, then it is important enough to repeat again and again.
3. Create A Follow-up Plan
In Ken Blanchards’ book Know Can Do, he says there are 3 keys to an effective follow-up plan:
- Structure
- Support
- Accountability
All three are my responsibility as a leader.
The Bottom Line:
Most people don’t need to be taught any thing new. They just need to be reminded. That is one of my jobs as a leader. If I want to see lasting change happen on my team or in my children, I must become the chief reminder. I must remember the Rule of Seven if I want those I lead to remember my words and change their habits for the better.
Question:
What is a message you have heard repeated consistently that changed your habits?
