In the previous issue, I outlined the dual paths that any group can take—that of the Lowest Common Factor and the Highest Common Multiple. But this gives rise to an interesting question: what if our current group is at its LCF, and we want to galvanise it into its HCM? Here are some tips:
Become What You Want Them to Become.
Nobody wants to hear a delinquent preach like the Buddha. Before even opening a conversation around change, you will first have to embody the change fully. Become unchangeably good, and only then can you begin to effect change.
The Unspoken Disapproval.
A public attack is the last thing that will change a SOMETHING group. Don’t interfere; just disengage at first. Slowly but surely, they’ll know that you don’t stand with their actions, but you still stand with them as people.
Go For The Head.
Every group has that one person. The one who everybody quietly looks at for approval and validation. Changing the group doesn’t happen by speaking out in the middle of a 15-man collective backbiting session; it happens with a heart-to-heart conversation with the silent leader of the group. Convince that one person, and when reverse herd mentality kicks in, everyone follows suit.
Change The Place, Change The Clock, Change The Man.
It’s easier to fall into bad habits post-midnight than at 6 a.m. So too, you are infinitely more likely to end in a drunken stupor if you meet in a bar as opposed to a temple. When the place and time of the rendezvous aren’t right, the lowest common factor of behaviour dominates with surprising ease.
The Three Introductions:
Introduce Thoughts
A fresh question. A random piece of general knowledge. The latest science concept featured on Veritasium. When the group’s conversations are centred around ideas, gossip stays far.
Introduce People
Sometimes, novel energy and an unfamiliar perspective can galvanise an unassuming cohort into a motivated, focused set of individuals. Introducing a new member to the group - one who aligns with your ideals and vision - can shift the social weight from degeneracy to dynamism.
Introduce Purpose
Why can’t we win the next state-level football tournament? Or start tinkering on an engineering project? Better yet, why not build a start-up? Pull the group together for a shared mission, a challenging contest, or a goal to beat, and you will see their baser inclinations fall automatically.
Implement these simple yet demanding steps, and you become the zero of your group: the multiplier of character who pushes your group from 1 to 10, 10 to 100, and so on.
0
1
When a group has a few such inspiring zeroes, the group achieves its Highest Common Multiple:
100000
Real leadership is never about flashy heroism, but about the unfailing standards you bring to your group. A zero is a true leader. Become unchangeable, and gradually shift your circles to higher standards and better living. All the best!