How to Get People to Do What You Want Them to Do

"Why can't they just follow directions?"

"They never do what I want them to do."

"It's like I'm talking to a wall."

One of the more difficult challenges a leader faces is when a team member, or shoot, a whole team, won't do what the leader wants or needs them to do.     Let's face it - if they aren't doing what you want - you aren't leading.

The good news is, there are ways to correct the situation.   To be clear, I am not talking about sly manipulation, a clever phrase that no one has heretofore thought of or fascist-like tactics.

Point One:   Recognize that as the leader, it is far easier (and probably far more effective) for you to change your tactics than to change the personalities, or even behavior, of your team.  For a leader to change their tactics in approaching the team is not a loss of the leader's integrity;  instead, it is a sure sign that the leader is flexible, has more communication tools from which to draw and can effectively lead a wide-ranging audience.

So, change it up.   If you've been giving instructions in a meeting, try giving them one to one.   If you've been giving instructions one to one, try giving them out in an e-mail.   Spend more time (certainly not less) with the person/team that is having difficulty.      Consider changing your personal approach to the project at hand.      There are many options in the world - try some new ones.

Point Two:     Saying it once is seldom enough.   You may desire to say it only once and have your instructions fully understood, but that is seldom the reality of life.     All of us have multiple priorities and hundreds of messages each and every day.   Find ways to reinforce your requests through multiple communications (without being a nag!).

Point Three:     Focus on the end result, not necessarily the way it's done.   I have learned over the years that I'm a much happier leader with much happier team members if I don't prescribe the exact way things have to be done to get to a final product.   Every person and every team has to have their own system . . .just because you've found a way that works for you - doesn't mean it works for everyone else.   Certainly be available to provide coaching and tips. . .and then focus on the end result.

Point Four:     Don't capitulate to  "If I want things done  (right) I'll just have to do them myself."   This kind of blows everything up.    As a leader, your job is not to do things yourself, your job is to provide a positive, supportive platform on which a team can perform to it's very best.

Certainly there are times when someone stubbornly refuses to follow directions and will not align with the team;   that is insubordination.     More often I've found that people just need to be reminded, coached, encouraged, communicated to in different ways to reach the end result that the leader desires.

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Brent Frerichs is the author of "Courageous Questions, Confident Leaders"  available for e-readers, PCs, tablets on Amazon Kindle.   If you are a member of Amazon Prime, you can now read this book for free!