Make a difference

The Science of Persuasion: Why You Need to Build This Muscle. Do this simple exercise to kickstart this journey.

Posted by Haja in Personal Effectiveness

It does not matter who you are, what you do, and the kind of impact you have. There is always a scope to improve, and this is one area that is really, really required by all of us. The Art of Persuasion can make a big difference to how well you do in every aspect of your life.

We need to improve on this definitely:)

Here are the key summary points –

Science of Persuasion: Over 60 years of research into the factors that lead us to agree with others’ requests have identified a science to persuasion, which includes six key shortcuts: Reciprocity, Scarcity, Authority, Consistency, Liking, and Consensus.
Reciprocity: People feel obligated to return favours or gestures. An example is the increased tipping in restaurants when waiters give mints to customers; this illustrates how the principle of giving first and providing personalised, unexpected gifts can enhance persuasion.
Scarcity: The desire for scarce resources. The increased demand for British Airways’ Concorde flights following their discontinuation announcement serves as evidence that emphasizing what is special and what might disappear can increase persuasion.
Authority: People follow credible, knowledgeable experts. For instance, physiotherapists displaying their diplomas, or real estate agents introduced with their credentials, show how signalling expertise before making a request increases compliance.
Consistency: People want to be consistent with past actions or commitments. Studies show that small initial commitments can lead to larger ones, like homeowners displaying a small sign leading to a willingness to put up a larger one later.
Liking: People agree with those they like, influenced by similarities, compliments, and cooperative goals. This is shown in studies where negotiators who share personal information before discussing business achieve better outcomes.
Consensus: People look to others’ actions to guide their own, especially when uncertain. Examples include hotel guests reusing towels more when informed that most others do too, demonstrating the power of pointing to what others are doing to persuade.

Here is a simple exercise for you to do when you are trying to build an engagement with someone—your client, your vendors, or your manager.

Key Point	Your Action Items
Give first, personalize, and surprise. (Reciprocity)
Highlight uniqueness and what can be lost. (Scarcity)
Show credibility before making a request. (Authority)
Seek small initial commitments. (Consistency)
Find commonalities and give genuine compliments. (Liking)
Show what others are doing, especially similar people. (Consensus)

Mar.11

10 Rules of Life: Naval Ravikant

Posted by Haja in Motivation, Personal Branding

Quick and short perspective of some key rules of life (from Youtube video- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TmAO9jBqJf4)

Embrace the Courage to Pivot: Be willing to abandon a journey that no longer aligns with your goals. Flexibility and resilience are key, enabling you to adapt and find new paths to success.
Act on Inspiration Promptly: When struck by inspiration, act immediately. The potency of an idea is strongest in the moment of its conception, and prompt action can capture this energy effectively.
Marry Impatience with Action, Patience with Results: Approach your goals with urgency, but understand that meaningful achievements take time to unfold. This balance keeps you motivated and grounded in reality.
Leverage Your Unique Strengths: Identify what makes you unique and use it to your advantage. Your distinct combination of skills, knowledge, and passion holds the key to carving out a niche that only you can fill.
Commit to Lifelong Learning: Make learning an integral part of your daily routine. The pursuit of knowledge enriches your life, sharpens your intellect, and prepares you for unforeseen challenges.
Foster Intellectual Curiosity Through Reading: Engage with a wide range of reading materials. A habit of reading nurtures intellectual curiosity and is a cornerstone of lifelong learning and success.
Focus on Understanding Core Principles: A deep grasp of fundamental concepts is more valuable than the surface-level memorization of advanced topics. Foundations are crucial for effective problem-solving and innovation.
Harness Modern Leverage: Utilize digital platforms and content creation as tools for influence and achievement without needing traditional gatekeepers’ approval. In today’s digital age, these forms of leverage can propel you to new heights.
Value Empty Space for Creativity: Allow yourself unstructured time. This space is essential for creativity to flourish, offering you the freedom to think, reflect, and innovate.
Define Success by Personal Fulfillment: Measure your success by your level of internal peace and happiness. This perspective prioritizes personal well-being over external accolades, leading to a more satisfying and balanced life.

Some great tips for people to follow.

Feb.07

Adding VALUE in every engagement you have drives customer delight

Posted by Haja in Personal Brand, StartUp

I remember reading these three words in a Reader’s Digest from the 90’s (more than 30 years ago) that has stuck with me since then. It said- “3 words that changed my world”.

Make a difference.

That has governed my thinking for a long time. And today, as I engage with clients on my own, I remember those words and they are the tenets we operate in.

In the dynamic landscape of customer experience, the difference between a good business and a great one often lies in its ability to not just meet but exceed customer expectations. Creating delightful experiences is not just about forging transactions but also about making connections that resonate with customers on a personal level.

As aptly put it, “The greatest technology in the world hasn’t replaced the ultimate relationship-building tool between a customer and a business; the human touch.”

Shep Hyken

To truly elevate customer delight, consider these refined strategies:

1. Personalize Every Interaction

In a world awash with generic, automated responses or corporate-style DIY (the horrible intranet links), personalization stands out as a beacon of warmth and sincerity. Take the time to personalize your approach to how you talk to them; do small things that matter to them. Personalization shows that you see your customers as unique individuals, not just numbers on a spreadsheet.

2. Exceed Expectations with Proactive Service

Waiting for customers to reach out with problems is a reactive approach. To truly delight, be proactive. Anticipate their needs and offer solutions before they even realize they need them. Sometimes it is okay to challenge their thinking and ask them questions to make them question their own positioning. Proactive service not only solves problems but also demonstrates your commitment to their satisfaction, making your customers feel valued and understood.

3. Create a Feedback Loop and Act on It

Feedback is a gift, and acting on it closes the loop, showing customers that their opinions are not just heard but valued and implemented. Encourage feedback through various channels, and make it easy for customers to share their thoughts with you. When you make changes based on customer feedback, let them know. Taking feedback and, more importantly, acting on it (and acknowledging the change you are making) also builds trust and loyalty by showing that you are a business that listens and evolves according to the needs of its customers.

Implementing these strategies requires sincerity and a genuine desire to add value, which creates customer delight. It’s about going beyond the transactional nature of business and fostering emotional connections that leave a lasting positive impression. By personalizing interactions, exceeding expectations with proactive service, and creating a responsive feedback loop, you can transform ordinary customer interactions into memorable experiences that not only satisfy but truly enchant your customers.

Feb.06

Don’t wait for the opportunity. Go create it

Posted by Haja in Attitude, Leadership, Personal Branding

How many people do you know who have great skills, but are wasting their career, and life- by waiting for the right chance to come along?

Creating opportunities instead of waiting for them is a proactive approach to personal and professional growth. Here are three ways for you to build this skillset – and then start sailing.

Cultivate Skills: Continuously improve and adapt your skills. Like the person drawing the ladder, use your abilities to create stepping stones towards your goals. How many of you know about ChatGPT or some of the new evolutions taking place? It is not about complaining that AI will take our future away, but to see how you can adapt to it and make it your friend.
Embrace Creativity: Think outside the box. The ladder doesn’t have to follow a conventional pattern if a more creative route better serves your ascent. Creativity does not need a creative person. Just a curious one. Become curious. Find out why. Then ask why not? You will be on the way.
Take Action: Start climbing now. Don’t wait for the perfect opportunity. Build it yourself with each step you take, and you’ll find yourself rising to heights you once only imagined. Just start moving. Just do it (Nike style). Especially when you come across those difficult steps. Keep stepping up. One more!

By applying these three principles, you turn the abstract concept of ‘creating opportunities’ into actionable steps, just like drawing your ladder one rung at a time. Have a great journey. And pass it forward to others who need this advise as well. You will be surprised just how many smart people need this.

Jan.18

You did not come so far to play small. Living an Asymmetric Life!

Posted by Haja in Attitude, Personal Branding, Think Big

Graham Weaver is founder and managing partner of Alpine Investors, a people-driven private equity firm that invests in software and services businesses. With over 20 years of experience in private equity, Graham founded Alpine based on the belief that exceptional people create exceptional businesses, a PeopleFirst philosophy that guides the firm’s choices today. When he’s not inspiring growth at Alpine, Graham teaches a top-rated strategic management course at Stanford’s Graduate School of Business (GSB).

This message stood out for me.

You did not come so far to play small. You came this far to move the world. Now is the time; now is your time.

4 key elements of leading an Asymmetric life:

Do hard things
Do your thing
Do it for decades
Write your story

And overcome fear-

“The four things that we talked about are ways that you can tangibly and tactically throughout your lives look fear in the eye and say to fear, not today, today I’m going to play big, today I’m going to play this asymmetric life. Now is the time to do hard things. There’s something that you fear right now, that’s exactly where you should go. You should be doing that thing.”

Every single point will make a difference. Take the time to listen to this. And then start practicing this.

You did not come so far to play small! You came this far to move the world. Now is your time!

Jan.10