Communication

Tony Wrighton is one of those guys who is talented in a number of areas. You may know him best from his role on Sky Sports, or perhaps from his podcast, Zestology. Tony loves to study the issue of human performance and is also a licensed NLP (Neuro Linguistic Programming) practitioner. This episode features Ari’s conversation with Tony about NLP, how it can be used to be more persuasive, and what you can do to apply NLP practices to your own life. It’s an intriguing conversation that is definitely worth your time.

There’s nothing worse than a bad NLPer. ~ Tony Wrighton As Ari and his guest, Tony Wrighton chatted about NLP, Ari asked what makes NLP persuasion techniques different than flat-out manipulation. Tony responded that every form of communication, in some way, is a form of manipulation – but it’s how you go about it and the motives behind it that make all the difference. He said NLP can definitely be misused in that regard. In his words, “There’s nothing worse than a bad NLPer.” You can learn how Tony uses NLP practices to encourage others and empower his own life, in this conversation.

A simple example of NLP persuasion in communication, on this episode. Tony Wrighton demonstrated how NLP can be applied to everyday conversations through the use of the word “might” when making a request. “Dear, I wonder if you might bring me a cup of coffee?” Tony says the insertion of “might” into the sentence softens the request so that it sounds less like a command and more of a kind-hearted request. Psychologically, that kind of request falls more gracefully on the thoughts of the hearer and raises fewer objections. It’s a simple technique that is second nature to Tony by now. You can hear more examples of how NLP can be used to increase the effectiveness of your daily communication, on this episode.

Energy levels and happiness can increase by unplugging. At the end of every episode of Leverage Ari asks his guests for their top 3 tips for increased productivity. Today’s guest, Tony Wrighton said that he’s noticed a greater degree of happiness and energy in his own life by turning off his phone for at least 2 hours every day. Can you imagine what it might be like to have NO notifications ringing in your ear for a portion of every day? If not, you might need to try what Tony’s suggesting. Tony shares some insightful tips from his experience as an NLP coach and broadcaster, on this episode of Leverage.

Tracking things tangibly is one of the best ways to know what to tweak in your life. We’ve all been at the point in life where we know something needs to change, but we’re not sure exactly what it is. One of the ways Tony Wrighton suggests discovering where to make the incremental tweaks in your life is to tangibly track things, using a spreadsheet. Sleep, exercise, nutrition, and many other aspects of personal life can be logged in ways that enable you to know exactly what’s going on in your life and how it correlates to increased or decreased energy levels, mental clarity, and other vital things for performance. Be sure you listen to this episode to hear Tony’s tips.

Outline of This Episode

– [0:03] Ari’s introduction of Tony and how he got into NLP (Neuro Linguistic Programing).

– [1:55] How NLP plays out practically in language and interactions.

– [3:20] The difference between persuasion and manipulation – and how NLP persuades.

– [6:14] How Tony has integrated NLP practices into his sportscasting.

– [7:31] The use of performance tracking/NLP to help people gain more self-awareness.

– [12:00] Tips for NLP-ing yourself

– [14:20] Tony’s top 3 pieces of advice for being more productive.

## Resources Mentioned – [www.TonyWrighton.com](http://www.TonyWrighton.com) – Tony’s podcast: [Zestology](http://www.tonywrighton.com/zestology/) – [Sleepcycle](https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/sleep-cycle-alarm-clock/id320606217?mt=8) – [The Oura Ring](https://ouraring.com/) – BOOK: [10% Happier](ht — Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/lessdoing/message

Everyone in business is will need to conduct a meeting at some point. When that time comes, you want to do it well, right? Ari and Nick’s guest on this episode is Cameron Herold, author of “Meetings Suck.” He’s on the show to talk specifically about how to conduct meetings in a way that makes them beneficial to everyone involved. In fact, Cameron says that you want to conduct your meetings in a way that people are actually eager to come. How can that happen? You can find out on this episode.

Do you know how to conduct a meeting for your team well? When Cameron Herold first came up with the idea for his book, “Meetings Suck” he was chatting with one of his peers who was bemoaning the meetings he had to conduct. When Cameron asked him if he’d ever been taught how to conduct an effective meeting, his friend said, “No.” That was the starting point and the book is the result. “Meetings Suck” serves as a primer on what meetings are for, how they should be planned, the best format and structure for meetings, and ground rules for participation. You’ll find Cameron’s insights into effective meetings very helpful, so be sure you listen.

Do your meetings suck or do you suck at running meetings? Most meetings drag on and on simply because the person conducting the meeting doesn’t know what they are doing. They wrongly believe that they are supposed to let everyone voice their opinion, allow for comments about everything, and be careful not to hurt anyone’s feelings. Cameron Herold says that’s the best way to frustrate everyone in the company and make attendance at meetings as much fun a root canal. You can hear some actionable, practical tips from Cameron about running effective meetings, on this episode.

“Sorry, I’m late” means, “I’m selfish and don’t value your time.” ~ Cameron Herold Every company or team needs to have ground rules for their meetings – and they need to be widely and clearly communicated. One of the most important ground rules is that you don’t show up late. Cameron Herold says that showing up late says, “I am selfish and I don’t value the time of the other people who are attending this meeting.” If you’ll take the time to hear what Cameron has to say about team culture as it pertains to meetings, you’ll discover some of the missing pieces that can make your meetings more effective and enjoyable for your team.

How to best conduct meetings for remote teams. It’s more and more common for companies (like the Leverage Team, for example) to work remotely all across the globe. That makes in-person meetings an impossibility most of the time. So what are some good alternatives and how should they be used most effectively? On this episode of The Leverage Podcast, Ari and Nick chat with Cameron Herold about meetings for remote teams and find out that most of the principles that should be applied to in-person meetings are even more important when it comes to video or phone meetings for remote teams. You’ll want to hear this one.

Outline of This Episode

– [0:03] Introduction of Cameron Herold, COO of 1-800-Got-Junk.

– [0.14] How Cameron came to write “Meetings Suck.”

– [2:12] How rigid should you be with scheduling of meetings?

– [3:53] Cameron’s basic meeting template and goals.

– [6:26] When is asynchronous video communication OK to replace meetings?

– [8:30] The primary purpose of meetings has to be meeting-specific.

– [9:42] How do Cameron’s principles about meetings apply to remote teams?

– [12:30] Using meetings well is about using people, time, and money well.

– [13:25] Tips for building team culture on a remote team.

– [15:50] Cameron’s top 3 tips to be more effective.

## Resources Mentioned – [www.CameronHerold.com](http://www.CameronHerold.com) – [www.1800GotJunk.com](http://www.1800GotJunk.com) – [The COO Alliance](http://www.cooalliance.com/) – BOOK: [Double, Double](https://www.amazon.com/Double-Your-Revenue-Profit-Years/dp/1608320995) – BOOK: [Meetings Suck](https — Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/lessdoing/message