The Heartful Innovator: ENGAGING OTHERS

In the previous articles, RAVI VENKATESAN outlined aspects of the “inner state” that we want to fine tune to become Heartful Innovators. He covered ways to overcome barriers to innovation like stress and fear, and also enablers of innovation like imagination and courage. To be effective innovators, we need three skills: coming up with unique ideas, articulating them well, and influencing others to rally around the idea. In this article he looks at the best ways to articulate ideas and influence others to rally around the ideas.

- RAVI VENKATESAN

Some of the smartest people I know struggle to express their ideas. They have clarity of thought, can quickly identify solutions to problems, but are poor at expressing themselves. Often, they are frustrated that no one seems to listen to them, so poorer decisions are made by people who are not as smart but speak with a “louder voice.” The reality is that it is not just the “louder voice” that is heard. Let’s revisit some of the concepts around the subtle bodies of Mind, Intellect, Ego and Consciousness that we have discussed; in this case, we will consider them collectively instead of individually.

How to articulate ideas to others in a way that they feel heard? Let’s go through the cycle of how your listener is processing what they hear from you:

If you develop the habit of always placing your ideas in a simple and logical manner, you will go through the filter of their Intellect. This is the easy part.