The Art of Herding Cats10 top tips to engage your colleagues

Jeffrey Newman Earth Charter Initiative UK

Harriet Sjerps-JonesUniversity of Exeter

The nature of cats

Customized approach

1 Listen & Research

Find out what makes your colleague tick, what is their area of expertise?

2 Cultural sensitivity

Learn the ‘tribal’ language

Motivation

3 Attractive propositions Explain how your agenda will help to meet their

targetsBe clear about what it will achieve‘Sell the sizzle’

4 Focussed concise communication Don’t waste anybody’s time!

Empower

5 Co-creation

Involve colleagues in project design

6 Praise any small or big contribution

Let your colleagues take the glory

Vision into action

7 Step by step

Start with small asks, so that it feels achievable.

8 Make it real Show by example what could be done.

Trust building

9 Be authentic and consistentDo your colleagues want to hang out with you?

Celebrate success

10 The winning team is attractive

Celebrate success, let everybody know!

Directive Collaborative

Persuasive Visionary

Push Pull

F. Dent, Ashridge Business School

Influencing styles