Just because you’re following me doesn’t mean I’m leading!
Notes:
I refer to the people who read this blog and follow me on Twitter as leaders. What I mean is, most people who use social media on-line have followers, friends, subscribers or similar, and I want to speak quite directly to that ‘leadership’ part of them – the part of them that others ARE following.
Your thoughts…
As a leader who reads this blog, your input to this topic is valued and encouraged.
Feel free to use any or all of the following questions to stimulate your thinking:
Q1: On-line, would you describe yourself more as a leader, a follower or something else?
Q2: Do you think that social media is redefining leadership? How so?
Q3: What’s the difference, if any, between on-line and off-line leadership?
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15 Responses to this post
January 29, 2010 at 10:42 pm |
My favourite leadership quote is this:
“He who thinks he leads but has no one following him is just taking a walk”
Conversely, when people are following you, it’s a sign you are leading. Social Media provides great opportunities to lead people you’d never meet otherwise. However I think there are distinctions and caveats to observe:
- It’s often not “I lead, you follow” – it is “we lead”. For instance, you and I. Neither of us is exclusively leading the other – we are in mutual leadership. This is a hallmark of people-to-people.
- Twitter provides quantity of followers. We must scale the levels of communication to build quality. I don’t care how many people are reading and following someone, theres a level that your influence can’t penetrate without depth.
- Because online we have a fast food culture, if you lead by a light-touch through copious tweets and blog, you will have light-touch commitment. Offline relationship also has this danger – but offline relationships don’t have thousands of people in a room all crying for attention.
- Therefore, given the above, online leadership requires FAR GREATER LEVELS OF UNIQUENESS AND DISTINCTION TO WORK, IMO.
February 2, 2010 at 8:43 am |
Hey Scott,
Yes, ‘mutual leadership’ is a great way of putting it, and it works because we have different areas of strength underpinned by a ‘mutual’ respect and trust.
It’s really only when commitment is drawn upon that the strength of leadership and follower-ship is tested. So many people are seem happy to be led right up to the moment when you ask them to do something!
Best, Robin
February 2, 2010 at 8:51 am |
Yes – which is why, as John Maxwell says, “Leadership is synonmous with influence”
If you can’t influence them to DO, you aren’t leading them. You’re just taking a walk.
Mutual leadership is a strong idea that I think has a lot to be discussed. How we do this practically – lets talk
January 30, 2010 at 12:16 am |
I am relatively a newbie when it comes to social media. I was keen to learn about the usefulness of the same and embarked on the journey only a few months ago. The learning and participation has been a slow process because of other commitments. Needless to say I began to follow quite a few people’s tweets and blogs. Social media and some of the people I consider leaders have prompted me to think outside the box. By sharing and reflecting out aloud online (in addition to blogging), I guess I am allowing “the leadership part of me” to take shape.
For me offline leadership too took time but because of years of working closely with people and teams and lessons learnt on the way, “the leadership part of me” has taken some shape already. There is still a lot more to learn and the process continues.
Best wishes,
Rani
February 2, 2010 at 8:47 am |
Thanks, Rani.
It’s very powerful that the ‘leadership part’ of you is taking shape. And these things don’t happen overnight. I get a real sense of calm and measured reflection from your comments, and it’s a style of leadership – humble leadership – that I really respond to.
Best to you, Robin
January 30, 2010 at 12:49 am |
Just adding another thought here:
It shoudn’t be that I “follow” you on Twitter. It’s realistically more in line with I “receive” your updates.
I think few people are being lead by the people they follow!
February 2, 2010 at 8:51 am |
Yes, very true. The term ‘follow’ in the context of Twitter, never meant ‘act according to the lead or example of someone’ – more like ‘keep track of’.
Maybe there’s an opportunity for a ‘Real Leaders’ branch of your ‘Like Minds’?
Best, Robin
February 2, 2010 at 9:00 am |
Robin
I *am* thinking about it.
A group of actual leaders who will collaborate this year on a social change program.
Hence, my v exclusive “People-to-people” list on Twitter that you’re on
February 1, 2010 at 1:14 pm |
Great post Robin
The term ‘leader’ is definitely a term which the audience determines and not the person/entity online.
Follower numbers on Twitter is a poor determinant of influence and leadership especially if when many accounts have been artificially enhanced due to the suggested user list (SUL).
Depending on their level of exposure to the public prior to your online presence (ie. having fans like many celebs), they’ll likely transfer their offline or off-Twitter influence onto Twitter with their fan-base.
Engagement is key. Paying it forward is key. Empowering people is key. Putting others first is key.
In this new dynamic of real-time search, the question to ask is not WIIFM (whats in it for me), it’s now WRWM (what resonates with me). WRWM means that if you know how to resonate with me, I’ll likely share your message and this equals increased ‘viralosity’.
Leaders online are those people who can ‘move’ the crowd’. There is very little difference IMHO as to what defines a leader. The qualities are the same, the methodology to lead is a little different.
All the best.
February 2, 2010 at 9:21 am |
Thanks Iconic88, that’s a fascinating comment.
You are clearly a person who commands great respect on and off-line by walking the talk. You put others first, engage with them, empower them and pay it forward. It’s a really nice way of encapsulating the leader behaviours that demonstrate great leadership. Well done!
Congratulations on your excellent tweet stream. I’m really hoping to meet you at NSCM some time.
Best, Robin
February 1, 2010 at 6:53 pm |
Leadership or following a herd!
My interpretation of social media is if you like the story, the tweet, the product or the person, then you shout it out to the world through all connected social mediums. Should your followers/friends/stalkers like the same they connect with you on a greater level. This then furthers your following, reputation and social media standing.
Love the shirt Robin. Thank you.
PS not sure if you arranged the CAPTCHA words or they were a coincidence, but my words were, “bummed” and “raised”. Seems appropriate to the topic, don’t you think?
Mardi
February 2, 2010 at 9:25 am |
Wow, welcome Mardi.
Thanks for your feedback and encouragement. Funny about the CAPCHA – not planned I assure you.
Reading your comment has stimulated another picture in my mind – hope I can do it justice.
Talk soon.
Best, Robin
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