Red Pill Leadership: Wake up and be a better leader

‘Leadership’ as a word certainly brings forth an element of mystique and emotion. The word conjures images of great people who stand apart from the rest of us. But it shouldn’t. Everyone can be (and should be) a leader. If you don’t think you’re a leader, think again. The basic definition of leadership according to Peter Northouse is

“…a process whereby an individual influences a group of individuals to achieve a common goal.”

You influence and motivate people every day. Sure, there are different styles and approaches to leadership but we are all leaders. How can you be a better leader? I like to use the model proposed by James Kouzes and Barry Posner in their book, The Leadership Challenge.

1. Challenge the process
2. Inspire a shared vision
3. Model the way
4. Enable others to act
5. Encourage the heart

Read more about each of these steps on The Leadership Challenge website.

Follow these steps and watch what happens. If you’re skeptical, take a look at the video that I link to below. Watch how an unlikely employee becomes an inspiration. It would be hard to argue he is not a leader.

The Simple Truths of Service

Which personality type is the most avid user of social media? Well, according to a study in Computers in Human Behavior, extroverted neurotics open to new experiences are the most likely users. The study titled “Who interacts on the Web?: The intersection of users’ personality and social media use” examined users of social media and three dimensions of the Big-Five personality model.

The Big Five model includes:

1. openness to experience: appreciation for a variety of experiences
2. conscientiousness: careful and dependable as well as self-disciplined
3. extraversion: outgoing and sociable
4. agreeableness: courteous and caring
5. neuroticism: anxious and depressed and sometimes hostile

This study only looked at openness to experience, extraversion, and neuroticism.

The scientific survey was sent to 10,000 qualified U.S. adults with 1,482 validly completed surveys returned. Of these, 959 cases were examined. 67% of the respondents were female and 33% were male. Ages ranged from 18 – 84 with an average age of 46.

After the statistical analysis was complete the researchers found that the most avid users of social media were extroverts open to new experiences. They also found that people who are more emotionally stable will use social media less frequently. The researchers state that “anxious and worrisome individuals tend to use social media more frequently than those who are emotionally stable.”

So, it is good to know that most reading this blog are gregarious extroverts open to change and new experiences but are quite emotionally unstable. I’m just the messenger.

Read the study for yourself and make your own conclusions. Remember that all scientific research has its limitations.

Article Reference
Correa, T. , Willard Hinsley, A. and Gil de Zuniga, H. , 2009-08-05 “Who interacts on the Web?: The intersection of users’ personality and social media use” Paper presented at the annual meeting of the Association for Education in Journalism and Mass Communication, Sheraton Boston, Boston, MA Online <APPLICATION/PDF>. 2010-01-15 from http://www.allacademic.com/meta/p374999_index.html

Example 2: Facebook status update made via Twitter

The first update is what my friends (or fans) expect. The second would likely solicit the following response, “Huh? What’s ‘RT’? What’s up with the pound sign?” In addition, on Facebook, the first update is more engaging and will stand out much better in a newsfeed than the second.

Different Purposes

Though both Facebook and Twitter engage friends, fans, and followers, they do so differently. Fans of the UB/Towson MBA page expect information about the program that is pertinent to both prospective and current students. It is entirely student focused. The MBA Twitter account is meant to engage the business community, entrepreneurs, the local and national media, and other MBA programs. We found that very few students are on Twitter (surprisingly few). Most are on Facebook.

Here’s an example of our Twitter page and our Facebook page. Notice the differences in content. The first is Twitter; the second Facebook.

Twitter Page

Facebook Page

I personally think it’s best to update each separately but you’ll need to decide for yourself considering the factors just discussed.

In all you do, be yourself. It’s your personal brand, no one else’s. Don’t throw up a façade. Don’t pretend to be someone else. Don’t try to fake it. When you try to act in ways that are not “you” everyone can tell. Trust me. I say this from personal experience. As Gary Vaynerchuk wrote in his book Crush It, you got to know your DNA. As Shakespeare said in Hamlet, “This above all: to thine own self be true.”

Know Yourself

Think back to the movie, the Matrix. When Neo visited the Oracle do you remember what was written on the plaque above her door? Take a look. ‘Temet Nosce’ means ‘know thyself’. Know your strengths and weaknesses. Know your true passion. Know what makes you happy. Know what motivates you. Know what values and beliefs drive your behavior.

 Act Yourself

As you become more self-aware you need to take a strong look at how you act. If you’re giving a presentation and humor is not natural to you, don’t try to be funny. Think of other strengths that you possess that can create a ‘sock-their-socks-off’ presentation. Acting yourself also means staying true to your values in all situations.

Here’s a test. Think about five personal interactions you’ve had recently. It could be with your boss, a client, your spouse, your son or daughter, or a random stranger. Were you authentic in what you said and the way you acted? You shouldn’t have multiple personalities that change depending on with whom you are speaking. Your core self should come through in all interactions.

Promote Yourself

Your brand is how you package yourself and present yourself to everyone. You should not have multiple brands. You might provide multiple services or products for different audiences but you are one brand. Promote yourself using social media, blogging about your expertise, presenting at conferences, doing a GREAT job at work, fulfilling your promises, guest writing for a newspaper or magazine, and booking yourself on a local or national television show.

Most importantly, promote yourself using media consistent with your brand, brand image, and your strengths. Not everyone looks or acts great on camera. If you are one of these people either get training on how to present on video or don’t do it. If you aren’t a great writer, learn to write better or hire someone to proof your work when blogging.

People don’t like fakers. To enhance your brand be authentic.

This is the logo of one of the world’s strongest brands; Coca-Cola. Personal branding can learn quite a bit from corporate branding. In their textbook, Marketing Management 12th edition, Kotler and Keller note 10 attributes of the world’s strongest brands. I think these are relevant to the topic of personal branding.

1. The brand excels at delivering the benefits consumers truly desire.
   This goes back to my previous article about delivering value. You can’t fake it. You need to deliver real value each day. If you don’t, your brand is worthless.
2. The brand stays relevant.
   This relates to another article I wrote about becoming an expert. Are you on top of your game? Are you continuously learning your craft to stay relevant and even ahead of the curve?
3. The pricing strategy is based on consumer perceptions of value.
   If you are an entrepreneur does your price point match the value you offer customers? If you work for an organization, is your salary in line with what you deliver? It is okay to be the Wal-Mart or Nordstrom of your specialty but just don’t try to be the Nordstrom if clients see you delivering Wal-Mart value (and vice versa).
4. The brand is properly positioned.
   Whatever your specialty, there are likely hundreds if not thousands like you. How are you different? What sets you apart?
5. The brand is consistent.
   Does your brand communicate a consistent message or is it wrought with conflicting messages? You can’t be ambiguous. When people see or hear your name you want them to know exactly what you stand for.
6. The brand portfolio and hierarchy make sense.
   In brand speak this is Coca-Cola having an umbrella over all its “sub-brands” like Diet Coke, Sprite, etc. In personal branding terms, does everything you offer make sense? For example, I discuss leadership, social media, and personal branding on this blog. It makes sense. If I discussed tax code, denture cleaning, and pet obedience training, you might be a bit confused about my brand.
7. The brand makes use of and coordinates a full repertoire of marketing activities to build equity.
   I’m simply going to quote the authors as this makes sense for corporate and personal brands. “Have you capitalized on the unique capabilities of each communication option while ensuring that the meaning of the brand is consistently delivered?” This includes your presence on Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn, and other social media tools.
8. The brand managers understand what the brand means to consumers.
   For personal branding, do you know how your audience sees you? Make sure there is no perception gap between how you communicate your brand and how your audience interprets your brand.
9. The brand is given proper, sustained support.
   Make sure you are doing all that is necessary to nurture your brand and provide yourself support. That can mean everything from getting proper training to keeping your blog updated.
10. The company monitors sources of brand equity.
    Make sure you are keeping track of your brand through various web and social media search tools. Checkout 46 Free Social Media Monitoring Tools to learn how.

Though this list is geared to corporate brands, it works very, very well with personal brands. Print this out and take a look at it daily to make sure your branding strategy matches that of the world’s strongest brands.