I was talking with a friend about a new foundation he is creating. As we were brainstorming about his upcoming funding presentation for a potential funder, I couldn’t help but think about the different personalities he would encounter and one person in particular (people in the presentation as described by my friend). My friend is extremely smart, capable, and successful at his work. I am confident he will put together a great presentation and expect the meeting to yield great results.
But I just couldn’t stop thinking about that one person…that person that you just can’t seem to connect with no matter what you do or how hard you try. It’s as if there is no mutual language both of you can understand together. It can be frustrating and a real confidence drain on your ability to implement change or lead a new initiative.
Much like personality wiring, our voice plays a huge role in our ability to connect with others. At GiANT Worldwide, we have a series of tools on the nature of voice and its role in communicating vision and implementing change. You can learn more about your leadership voice at 5voices.com (an excellent site that details the five different leadership voices and provides a free assessment for you to understand your voice order). I want to focus on one tool:
The majority of the population is wired to be a Nurturer or Guardian as a foundational leadership voice. My friend is likely a Pioneer and that one person in his meeting is most likely a Guardian. You don’t need to know anything about the voices to see the power of this tool if you are a Pioneer, Creative, or Connector trying to lead Guardians and Nurturers. Further, it is easy to see where tension can mount when communicating vision and leading change. What is the bridge and how do you build it?
Using my friend’s example, let’s briefly clarify the differences between Pioneers and Guardians. Pioneers are champions of strategic vision, tough decisions and problem solving. In the world of a pioneer the attitude is, “Who says we can’t?”. Guardians are the champions of truth and the stewardship of money and systems. Guardians have an amazing ability to marshal resources in such a way that achieves the maximum from an investment and protects the systems that are working well. Pioneers have clarity of vision and the desired outcome. Sometimes, realization of the outcome has a much higher price tag (financial and otherwise) than originally anticipated. It’s not hard to see where the chasm can form over the same idea for the Pioneer and the Guardian. Without proper self-awareness, a meeting to propose new funding or implementing a significant change can quickly spiral out of control. In this instance, the bridge becomes the translation that both pioneers and guardians can relate to in terms of their predisposition. Below are some ways that Pioneers and Guardians can build the bridge that gives everyone the confidence to follow the vision and bring their strengths to the table:
Pioneers leading Guardians and Nurturers
- Begin with “why”:
- What happens if we don’t implement this change?
- What happens if we do implement this change?
- Help Guardians and Nurturers see themselves in your picture
- Remain sensitive to the pace of change – don’t press the gas; help Guardians and Nurturers take their feet off the brake
- Run a pilot whenever possible
- Don’t enact change without the Guardians and Nurturers; accomplish change with them
- You are really good at “Wow!”; Guardians and Nurturers need to hear “How.”
Guardians leading Pioneers, Creatives, and Connectors
- Draw out and encourage ideas, vision, and thinking aloud
- Let Pioneers, Creatives, and Connectors participate in the creation process
- Don’t micromanage – provide space for Pioneers, Creatives, and Connectors, both physically & intellectually
- Change isn’t a bad word, but it can be painful
- Delegate authority, not just responsibility
- Measure what matters, which is not everything
- Create space where it’s ok to try new things and fail (that’s how learning and growth occurs)
- It’s ok if not everyone agrees with some decisions when building consensus
How do you build bridges with people who communicate differently from you? I’d love to hear your strategies in the comments below.
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