Working at home is difficult at times – so many distractions and so many other things you could be doing rather than working – and it is very easy to draw up a to-do list that includes non-work objectives. Your advice about creating a process-flow chart and mapping out what successful days looks like will be fun to put into practice. I’d like to see if there is an optimal structure.

Thanks!

I begin using Influencer principles whenever the problem is more entrenched, involves broader social norms, or requires structural changes. We describe some problems as being “profound, persistent, and resistant.” These are the problems that merit an Influencer approach.

A quick example: Suppose you have an employee who sometimes touches sensitive parts, leaving fingerprints that cause the component to fail six months down the line. This kind of problem is fairly common in the semiconductor industry.

I’d begin with a Crucial Conversation or Crucial Confrontation. I’d explain why touching the parts creates problems, and I’d learn why the employee has sometimes touched them. I’d try to get a clear agreement and follow-up plan.

But suppose it’s not just one employee who touches the parts; it’s most employees. And suppose I’ve already tried a few “solutions”–like explaining the reasons to avoid touching the parts and giving them gloves to use when they need to move parts–and these solutions haven’t produced lasting change.

This would be the kind of situation when the Influencer approach would be ideal. Sure, it would be more trouble than a simple Crucial Conversation, but it would be worth it–because it would produce a comprehensive solution.

Check out the worksheet we have on our website to see how you might craft a solution to a problem like this one.
http://www.vitalsmarts.com/userfiles/pdfs/Influencer%20Worksheet.pdf

Thanks for this insightful response. So often people want a “magic bullet”. There really is a quick and easy answer, but it takes following the steps you recommend to find it – those vital behaviors that make all the difference.

Elaine