Of all the sessions I teach in my new online course, this really is the one I am most passionate about. It’s the session I spent the most time on and so far has received...
Stop Making It So Hard for People to Join You
Let’s be honest: we to often, yet unintentionally, put roadblocks in the way of the very people we’re trying to reach.
We overcomplicate the process. We stick to our preferences. We assume others will adapt to us.
But here’s the truth: It’s not about what’s easy for us. It’s about what’s easy for them.
Over a decade ago, I was working with a nonprofit that had a heart to engage teams across Europe. Not only that they had a large number of European leads coming in on a regular difference. Though very few of these leads were ever converting to actual participants in their programs. The challenge? It ended up being as simple as time zones. Our team was based in Australia, and what worked for us didn’t work for them. Simply put we couldn't call them because they were sleeping when we were at work. We knew phone calls were critical in the sales process but were not doing it. So with that the team launched the "EURO CALL"—early morning calls designed specifically to make it easy for our European teams to join in.
This meant waking up before dawn, adjusting schedules, and setting aside convenience. Though don't worry the team got off early that day, rotated staff, and made sure to rest. But that simple decision—to meet people on their terms—communicated something powerful: You matter. We’re here for you. Let’s do this together.
That experience taught me a foundational principle: Effective communication removes friction. It meets people where they are and invites them in.
So where might we be making it hard for people to join us?
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Is our process too complicated?
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Are we speaking in ways that only make sense to us?
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Are we expecting people to take all the steps, while we stay in our comfort zones?
Let’s flip the script. Let’s reimagine our communication not as a system of preference but as a pathway of engagement.
Because when we make it easy for people to join us—we make it easy for them to say yes.
And that’s how movements grow.
