Extraordinary Influence

7Extraordinary Influence for UnderperformersBringing Out the Best in Someone Who Has Lost His Way

The fundamental premise of Extraordinary Influence rests on the belief that bringing out the best in others embodies a leader's highest calling. Affirmation of someone's customary style and competence contribute significantly to that aim. Speaking Words of Life into a person's core can be truly transformational.

Another basic premise of this book—Alliance Feedback (connecting a needed change to a person's personal aspirations) provides a powerful means to bring someone into alignment with the goals, mission, strategies, and culture of the organization.

Performance problems are usually addressed individually. Though not always, performance problems are typically rooted in a person's ineffective style, their lack of competence, or a breached core or some combination of the three.

Some critically important questions:

• How do we bring out the best in others experiencing performance problems?
• Are there instances in which a person and his or her work performance problems simply cannot be remedied?
• If we embark on an effort to develop a person, what are the chances of success?
• Can we realistically bring out the best in anyone?

Performance problems are typically rooted in a person's ineffective style, their lack of competence, or a breached core or some combination of the three.

To answer these questions, let's consider three true stories.

True Story 1

When I finished graduate school ...