Mastering Mind Control

What if I told you that you could master mind control? It’s not as difficult as it sounds; it just requires patience and practice. That is, of course, in regard to controlling your own mind. You can have social influence over others, but you can only control yourself. Having that control over your own thoughts is critically important in life. Innovation, growth, and success all start from within. When you have a handle on your mind, you’ll gain more control over your behaviors and actions, which will lead to your desired outcomes. Control your mind; control your outcomes.

You may not be able to master mind control of other people, but controlling your own mind can be just as impactful. How they think and what they do is up to them; however, you can lead by example and encourage them to become the best version of themselves they can be. There is power in influence, and that influence is only possible when you develop a healthy relationship with your team. Don’t use fear to lead– use connection. Be the kind of leader that others would willingly follow.

You can also have expectations for others within your organization, and if they do not meet those expectations, you can and should take corrective action. The most effective changes take place when the individual buys into it. They have to want to take new action for the change to stick, and you can encourage that by explaining the benefits and outcomes they could reach by altering their behavior, as well as the risks if they choose to remain the same. This is not the time to talk down to your team. It’s the time for lifting them up and encouraging them, while helping them understand why a change needs to be made.

When addressing a team member about such change, you must control your own feelings about the situation and control the words you speak. You may feel frustrated if the individual has fallen short of your expectations, but belittling them, singling them out, or attacking their character will negatively affect their opinion of you, either temporarily or permanently, and will not lead to positive change. Again, this is why mastering your own mind is critically important. Be patient with yourself, but also be patient with others. Speak to your team how you would want to be spoken to. Both trust and respect are earned in drops but lost in buckets. Don’t risk losing their trust or respect over one conversation.

Start practicing mind control every day. When you get a handle on your own thoughts, emotions, and actions, not only will your interactions with others improve, but you’ll also have more control over your outcomes. In the words of Napoleon Hill, “Mind control is the result of self-discipline and habit. You either control your mind or it controls you.”

-Meghan Slaughter