My Sherpa and I are trekking Everest Base Camp (EBC) again in a couple of weeks. We're meeting some good friends there. We have all been talking about doing this for a few years and we are super excited. I cannot wait to get back to the serenity of the Himalayas. I have been watching their training regime, answering questions about what to pack and organising accommodation and guides. I think we are pretty damn organised – definitely more organised than I was when I embarked on my first EBC trek. I found out a couple of weeks ago that they were having some trouble getting their passports. I will spare you the nitty gritty details, but suffice to say, they were very stressed and at a loss as to how they could get the outcome they wanted and expedite the process.
If you want something done right, do it yourself. This is the adage we've been told for so many years, but we know we can't do everything and we cannot always be in the driver’s seat. So, what do we do when we are in a situation where we must rely on other people to get something done, which is very important to us? The answer my friend came up with is - use your influence. She found some people who could impact the decision and expedite the process and she used her story and her words to elicit compassion from those who are in a position of more authority than her.
How often is it the case in our work life where we know that we could do something better, quicker, cheaper but we know full well that we can't do it all without ending in burn out or failure? This is when the concept of influencing others, developing relationships, and building trust so that they understand the importance of an outcome for us allows us to influence a situation. This avenue provides us traction to get the outcome we desire. Influence is the leverage we have where action is not possible (or preferred).
Yesterday, the passports came through. The sense of relief that flowed through me when I saw the passports in my social feed I'm sure is only half of what was felt by her family. Credit to her, she anticipated the danger, knew when to step in, asked for support and influenced the outcome. She has learnt the Sherpa lessons before even stepping onto the mountain. Can’t wait to see her and her family smiling at Everest Base Camp, after dealing with the bureaucracy in such an effective manner, they deserve it.
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