Jason Ewart is a Sydney-based transformation writer and speaker who obliterated obesity & demolished debt.
As I continue to learn about leadership and social media, I am challenged by the following scenario. (Let’s use Twitter as an example.)
It was pretty cool to see numbers of “followers” ticking over in my early days of usage, I must admit. Wow! Someone wants to connect with me?!
I would be prompted to consider my niche, product/service, methods and tools. Topics that I can learn a lot about from my fellow guest bloggers & the Successfool community I’m sure.
Then it dawned on me, just maybe “followers” are expecting leadership? An ancient proverb states that leadership is nothing without a following.
It’s not a witty self-anointed title or a creatively formed position in our business models. As author John Maxwell defines it – “Leadership is influence”
A few days ago, News.com.au published an article discussing Twitter “influence” and ranking social networking users.
It mentioned that established users on Twitter
“frequently compare each other in terms of “influence” – more or less derived from how many other users read and republish their posts.”
Is influence defined by how many readers we have or how many readers are prompted to action or even reproduction? (Retweeting? Mentoring other leaders? Resourcing?)
We all have a certain size & particular sphere of influence, or “tribes” as Seth Godin frames it.
I am challenged repeatedly to use that influence within community for things of worth, to add value to people and be a voice for the voiceless.
After all, even some of the most despised figures in history were great leaders!
Will my influence be used for maintaining a neutral position? (read: atrophy) or to conform to the status quo, possibly not meeting defined needs and assisting people?
This tweet by @MatthewBarnett resonated with me in recent days
“tweet message recap. If we strive to be relevant will only try to catch up to the moment. When we are revolutionary we are setting trends”
That is the type of leadership I aspire to: Influence that is innovative, advancing and even courageous.
Where am I taking “followers”? Where are you taking them?
I just joined Twitter ;o]
I would think that I’m taking my followers on a journey through the insane workings of a church planter/campus pastor’s mind. Although I believe I want my purpose to effectively help them make a difference in their world.
Good thought Jason. And the responsibility that comes with having ‘followers’ must never be under estimated. Sometimes we don’t realise the influence we have on others, in a way we are all leaders.
Great blog! It’s easy to get caught up in the activity and forget the purpose. Thanks for the reminder.
I think the word “follower” was just an early decision by Twitter.com to allow users to select the feeds they wanted to view.
Your advice for being a leader is great… but as new users come onto the system, I would point out that they aren’t voting with that button.. just selecting someone they’d like to read a bit more about.
Thanks for the challenge, Jason. A few months back I heard someone say that leadership doesn’t matter if we aren’t leading in things that matter. While what ‘matters’ will differ according to each of us, there’s also necessity in determining how and where to best use our leadership gifts so they’re not wasted. Your words remind me that even though my tribe is not large, my leadership must be as thorough and focused as anyone’s.