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The Two Jobs of a Leader and Generating True Buy-In w/ Erik Berglund (Part 3) - Ep. 26
Description
Welcome back to the finale of our deep dive with communication and leadership expert, Erik Berglund! In PART THREE, we pivot from the foundational principles of influence to the tactical execution that separates good leaders from great ones. What are the only two jobs a leader is truly responsible for? What is the three-step "enrollment" formula that generates authentic buy-in without manipulation? And what is the most common trap that turns high-performing experts into burnt-out, ineffective managers? Get ready to take notes.
⏮️ Catch Up on Previous Parts
💡 Unlocking the Playbook
The Subject Matter Expert Trap: Promoting your best individual contributor into a leadership role is a tale as old as time—and a massive trap. Erik explains that when a leader has all the answers because they used to do the job, they get sucked into solving their team's problems for them. The best leaders don’t need to know how to do the work; their job is to lead their people to solve their own damn problems and develop their talent in the process.
The Leader's Two Core Responsibilities: According to Erik, the job of a leader boils down to only two things. First, hold people accountable to the mission of the organization, ensuring the team gets things done. Second, and just as crucial, is to develop the talent of the people you've been entrusted to lead. If you excel at these two functions, you are an awesome leader, regardless of your subject matter expertise.
The Recipe for Authentic Buy-In: To get true buy-in, you must frame your ask around what's in it for the other person. Erik shares a simple but powerful three-step enrollment formula: 1) Start with what you genuinely want for them. 2) Clearly state your intention or what you'd like to do. 3) Ask for their permission to proceed. This approach disarms resistance and ensures their "yes" is genuine because you gave them a real opportunity to say "no."
🤫 The No Trade Secret
I talk to myself like a crazy person. In the shower, on a drive somewhere. I have gotten over the awkward sensation of literally talking to myself and saying the thing I want to say in that next meeting again and again and again, such that it's just normal... it is very helpful to have said the words you're about to say to a person under stress or under duress a couple times to yourself in a zero-risk environment.
🗣️ Words to Build On
"Doing what you like to do is pretty expensive. Doing the thing that's effective is far more profitable, whatever profit means in your world." – Erik Berglund
"A really good leader doesn't need to know a single thing about what you do in order to help you be more effective at getting it done." – Erik Berglund
"Giving somebody the opportunity to say no is the only thing that actually makes their yes mean anything." – Erik Berglund
👤 About Erik
Erik is the founder of the Language of Leadership and Loominary, and the host of the 'I have some questions' podcast. His work focuses on changing what people say and how they say it in order to be influential. His companies create skill simulation systems that allow people to practice the most difficult conversations before they occur in real life. He lives in Bend, Oregon with his daughters (10 and 7) and his wife of 13 years.
🔗 Links & Resources
🎧 Missed the beginning? Go back and catch up on PART ONE and PART TWO