{"id":13065,"date":"2014-10-06T01:18:51","date_gmt":"2014-10-06T08:18:51","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/svapm.org\/?p=13065"},"modified":"2014-09-12T09:24:18","modified_gmt":"2014-09-12T16:24:18","slug":"get-someone-something-isnt-important","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/svapm.org\/?p=13065","title":{"rendered":"How to get someone to do something that isn’t important to them"},"content":{"rendered":"

Hello, this is Laura Lee Rose. \u00a0I am a speaker and author.\u00a0 My background is in time and project management.<\/p>\n

I help busy professionals and entrepreneurs create effective systems so that they can comfortably delegate to others, be more profitable and have time to enjoy life even if they don\u2019t have time to learn new technology or train their staff.\u00a0 I have a knack for taking big ideas and converting them into smart, sound, and actionable ideas.<\/p>\n

At the end of the day, I give people peace of mind.
\nToday\u2019s question came from a busy professional interested in freeing some time and space to advance in his career.<\/p>\n

\"letseethat<\/a>\u00a0How do you get someone in another department to do something you need that isn’t important to them?<\/b><\/p>\n

The key thing that you have already realized is that this isn’t important to them.\u00a0 SO – they ARE doing you a favor.<\/p>\n

Do not approach this as “they are the road block”.\u00a0 Instead – approach them as a valued consultant, expert or mentor.\u00a0 Make it easy for them to do this favor for you; and be prepared to do the actual work.<\/p>\n

Approach with appreciation, admiration, and friendship.
\nSome recommendations:<\/p>\n

1) Invite them to (and pay for) lunch or dinner to interview them for their advise on this topic.<\/p>\n

2) Approach it as if you are gathering valuable information from them — AND YOU ARE NOT ASKING them to do the work.<\/p>\n

3) Share your current situation and ask their advice on how to go about accomplishing it.\u00a0 Ask them what they think your next step should be.\u00a0 People often give their opinions and advice freely.\u00a0 Take advantage of this human trait.<\/p>\n

4) Be prepared to do the work, with the information and advice that they give you. (This may mean that you create the spreadsheet with their information.\u00a0 Or that you do the research from the links and pointers that they give you. Or it may that you write your own recommendation, testimonials and articles.\u00a0 Then ask them to edit as they see fit.\u00a0 Or that you do all the leg work and make it easy for them to sign-off.)<\/p>\n

5) Do everything that you can possible do to reduce their effort and time.\u00a0 Make it easy for them to help you. This monkey on your back is your monkey – not theirs; therefore, you are responsible for feeding your own monkey and not pass it onto someone else’ shoulders.<\/p>\n

6) Take something off their plates.\u00a0 There may be something that you can do for them that allows them to free some time for you.\u00a0 Explore some job or task swapping opportunities.<\/p>\n

7) If they say they cannot help, emphasize how much you appreciate their time and admire their experience in this area.\u00a0 Then ask them to recommend someone else that they think would be a better fit for this project.<\/p>\n

Approach the topics with an appreciation of their time, their talent and their experience.\u00a0 Treat them as special.\u00a0 Realize that they are the best at what they do and therefore are much in demand. \u00a0\u00a0Their time is valuable.<\/p>\n

End-Game:<\/b>\u00a0 The job isn’t done once you get what you want. It’s only just begun.<\/p>\n