Enrollment: A Forgotten Art.

“Enrollment” is the art of moving a person to action. We all do it every day, whether it is within our family, our business, or any situation which brings us into contact with others or when we want someone to do something. Some confuse enrollment with sales or marketing, but it’s a different beast (although related and part of the process). Enrollment stands on its own as a skill which we all need to better understand.

So, what does enrollment mean? Enlistment… engagement… invitation… induction.

It is the act of demonstrating something so others will want to, and be able to, take action along the lines demonstrated. It is making something inviting, enticing, and desirable so others will want to join, do, or pursue.

It is not selling.

It may be demonstrating, it may be merely inviting or asking for participation. It may include demonstrating the benefits you received and asking if they want to also enjoy the same benefits.

Is it marketing? No. Close, but not the same arena.

We are best off enrolling someone to accomplish or do something by supporting the person with adequate input, demonstration, information, etc. so they want to take the steps desired. We all do this every day, but frankly, we forget the process or do not understand it very well. It is the act of setting the stage so a person steps into the arena of action on his own.

Enrollment means supporting a person to make the desired decision or take the desired action, frequently explaining or demonstrating the reasons or benefits you may have experienced and inquiring if these benefits are something they would want to experience and then letting them know what would be required for them to also enjoy the benefits discussed.

It is a subtle, pleasant and very successful method of getting people to do what you want them to do. Most of the time we order, require, insist, harass, harangue,  and yes, sell, when we want people to do something, but if we engage in the process of enrollment, which supports an individual decision to do what we want done, we will be far more successful.

It’s a tough concept, yes, because it takes patience and consideration for the person we are enrolling. It takes an understanding of what is required for a person to make an independent decision and then encouraging that person to take the steps required. It sounds like sales, but it is much closer to an invitation than a sales pitch.

Try it. You will like it, because it works.