Just as a confused customer buys nothing, neither does a confused student try something (and in the rare instances when they do, the results are predictably poor).
If leaders want to convert ideas into action, they should remember the acronym MISS to HIT:
Make It So Simple to Have It Tried.
Even complex ideas and actions can be broken into basic component parts. Making a first step so simple not only makes it easier for the student to try, but also increases the chances of success. This creates a virtuous cycle of confidence. Once successful in the basics, the learner can build on them to do more difficult things.
This idea can be used to clarify soft skills. Recently I worked with a client that tells employees not simply to welcome customers but to make them feel welcomed. Welcoming a customer can be rote and rigid; making a customer feel welcome is about creating a warm, positive experience. What makes anyone feel welcomed? A sincere greeting accompanied by a smile and willingness to help. The specific words are less important than the sincere actions. So simple…once explained.
What have you asked someone to do that hasn’t been tried? If it isn’t a lack of cooperation or motivation, it may be that the person simply doesn’t know how to begin.
Having anything tried begins with making it so simple. That’s MISS to HIT.
