Get instant engagement by aligning your agenda with theirs

18th November 2014

Have you ever been bored during someone else’s presentation?

Has someone else ever been bored during yours?

It’s notoriously hard to align your agenda to other people’s. And, failing to do so causes big problems – strategies don’t land, stakeholders don’t engage, teams don’t buy-in, communications take too long … and don’t work.

To help both you and them value your communications more, when preparing, play the "Why’s That Good Game". Imagine your audience saying "Why’s that good?" to your agenda, and you replying with "Well, that’s a good thing for you because."  So, for a leader outlining her new strategy…

Leader: Here’s the new strategy

   Audience: Why’s that good?

Leader: Well, that’s a good thing for you because you will know the direction we’re going

   Audience: Why’s that good?

Leader: Well, that’s a good thing for you because you’ll know the changes to your role going forwards

   Audience: Why’s that good?

Leader: Well, that’s a good thing for you because you’ll learn simple changes to make, to be more successful and to enjoy your job more

To secure instant buy-in, since the last iteration is their agenda, start there and work backwards:

"I want to show you simple changes to make, to help you be more successful and enjoy your job more. To help you do this, I’m going to show you the changes to your role going forwards, by outlining the direction we’re going. I’ll do this by sharing our new strategy with you."

Frame communications from their agenda, and they’re more likely to buy into yours.

Action point

To secure instant buy-in with your next communication, play the "Why’s That Good Game" with your title and introductions. Start with the last iteration, since that’s the phrase most likely to get them listening.

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