It’s no surprise that the things change and plans get reworked. That’s just how life goes. At times, the terrain ahead of us seems to be hidden by a thick fog, forcing us to move ahead slowly and with caution. It’s a crazy world and who knows what might be lurking around the corner or just beyond where our vision ends.

When the path ahead becomes unclear, most people cower and hide. They don’t want to move ahead because it’s too much of a risk. The fear of the unknown cripples them and they can’t bear to journey on.

Lucky for you, you’re not in that group. Instead, you’re a First Class Leader who is leading the charge into the unknown.

Right?

Preparing for the Storm

It’s often said that you are what you eat. It’s true; what you consume is often displayed in the characteristics of your body. If you eat double cheeseburgers every day, you might not be as lean as someone who only eats salads and drinks water.

You reap what you sow, too. Whatever you ingest mentally is what comes out through your actions. If you fill your head with relevant information before the big test, chances are that you’ll know most of the answers. If not, you probably won’t do well.

In order to manage the storm, you need to prepare. There is no better way to prepare than through reading. Humans have a tendency to put into action what they read and when the problems arise, you’ll implement some great thinking if you’ve read about how to manage things.

I’m not going to regurgitate the great teachings of philosophers and expert problem-solvers. Instead, here are a few books I recommend:

- The Leader Who Had No Title by Robin Sharma
- Tribes by Seth Godin
- The Magic of Thinking Big by Dr. David Schwartz
- 21 Indespensible Qualities of a Leader by John Maxwell

These books have taught me some life-changing information and I think you can learn from them, too. Take the first step: prepare.

Making It Through

Do you know how to spot a First Class Leader? Look to see who is making progress when everyone else is slowing down.

In the business world, the key to success is not to gain a title. Instead, the key is to be adaptive to change no matter your title. If you can manage to adapt well to an ever-changing environment, you’re golden.

First Class Leaders don’t run away from the challenge or the problem or the change; they take it on and show what distinguishes them from everyone else.

In order to make it through, you need to be positive and committed to doing your best work no matter what is going on around you. Yes, there may be critics who want to stand in your way. It’s even possible that you might be lacking experience. But, when it comes down to the 11th hour, true First Class Leaders embrace business changes and adapt appropriately, showing their true colors and potential.

I will tell you that ingraining this philosophy of forging through the fog is not easy. In fact, it’s a struggle to remember you’re a First Class Leader and not someone who can just hide from change but it’s worth it. Don’t resist the changes being made in your life. Take them on and show that you can adapt, learn, and implement like a First Class Leader.

I can guarantee you this: you will experience more benefits, perks, and career opportunities than someone who plays it safe. All of that can come just by stepping up to the plate. Are you ready to step into the woods and forge ahead?

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Eric Alpin is the Associate Editor of Folk Media and works for a telecommunications company in Baltimore, Md. He is a social media enthusiast, blogger, writer, and student with a passion for leadership and self-development strategies and techniques. Find out more about Eric on Twitter.

*Photo by lornzo

In a world full of social media, it’s important to realize that actions actually do speak louder than words.  It’s OK to say that you’re going to complete a project or post a great blog entry but until you do it, your words mean very little.  It’s the actions that make or break a social media strategy.  How well can you engage your followers and show them value beyond the occasional tweet or @reply?  How can you show your Facebook fans that you care and not just tell them?

Your social media campaign requires action in order to be successful.  In the same token, your quest for leadership development needs action to make a difference – tier two action.

You’re probably wondering, “tier two action?”  Well, actions can be broken down into two types, or tiers.  First, you have standard, or tier one, actions.  Tier one actions would be putting in a good word for someone, giving someone a deal on a specific item, or just engaging in deep conversation.  Tier two actions are a step above; they help people.  An example of a tier two action would be giving someone advice on how to deal with a struggle at work or at home.

In a nutshell, tier two actions deliver your knowledge and expert wisdom to another person, thus imparting your abilities in their life.  In a sense, you’re spreading the word about something great and you’re influencing someone in hope that they will be great one day.

First Class Leaders don’t just sit in their seats all day and keep all of their knowledge and guidance to themselves.  No, they share it and they do it willingly.  First Class Leaders make tier two actions a part of their day-to-day routine, whether its at home, the gym, or the office.

So, why should you become a First Class Leader and spread your knowledge?  Because, after all, if you spread the information you’ve gathered through the years to someone else, that means you’re in competition for jobs, promotions, and bonuses, right?  Yes, that’s true but it’s not the end all be all of leadership.

A leader doesn’t read books in order to get the next promotion or snag the highest bonus.  Sure, those are positive consequences of becoming a good leader but they aren’t, or they shouldn’t be, the only reason to develop your leadership potential.

The reason you should develop your leadership potential is because you know that you have more to offer the world.  You know that you can have an influence on the lives of others, your company, and global society if you become a leader.  There is no comparing a one-time bonus to changing the face of a company.  First Class Leaders develop themselves in order to develop others through tier two actions.

Now that you’re convinced you need to start dishing out tier two actions, here are a few ways to get started:

• Seek out people who need your help.  You’re a SME (Subject Matter Expert) in some area and there are sure to be people who aren’t.  Connect with them and make a difference.
• Freely give your feedback in meetings and in focus groups.  Show the other members of the meeting that you care and that you want to help.
• Share best practices with your team or office.  Have a quick way of doing the reports?  Share your method with everyone else and see what happens.
• Become a mentor with someone, even if it’s out of the office.  You might become a mentor to a teenager, a struggling student, or a recent college grad.  Give back to someone.

I just named a few ways of showing tier two actions but there are so many more.  Think about showing you care through two tier two actions this week.  See how they pan out.  If nothing happens because of your hard work, try again and don’t give up.  Be a First Class Leader and take the next step – touch the world with tier two actions.

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Eric Alpin is the Associate Editor of Folk Media and works for a telecommunications company in Baltimore, Md. He is a social media enthusiast, blogger, writer, and student with a passion for leadership and self-development strategies and techniques. Find out more about Eric on Twitter.

*Photo by lusi

It’s true; leadership books sell.  Everyone, whether its a veteran leader or a wannabe leader, wants to know the secrets to leadership.  It could be for personal or professional gain.  Any way that you look at it, leadership is a topic that attracts interest and earns serious profits.

However, most leaderships books fall short of the desired objective.  Most books don’t give you information on becoming a better leader.  Instead, they tell you a few stories about how it’s been done in the past and they expect you to mock Sam Walton (Wal-Mart), Peter Drucker, or Warren Buffett.  I’m not knocking those great leadership pioneers but what worked for Sam, Peter, and Warren may not work for you, me, and our cubicle neighbor.

I’d like to introduce a short series: First Class Leadership.  Instead of sharing stories, I’m going to share concepts and ideas that will work for nearly everyone.  Whether you’re a leader with a title or a leader without a title, a veteran leader or a leader in progress, you’ll find this data to be helpful.  Today’s leaders need to be a cut above the rest and in this series, I’ll tell you how to be “that” guy or gal who everyone talks about.  My hope is that this series will transform all aspects of your life and will play a major role in your development and the progression of those around you.

Without further ado, let’s learn about First Class Leadership.

Growing up, we all probably played the game follow the leader.  You know, the game where you had to mimic the designated leader.  If they walked, you walked.  If they turned the corner, you turned, too.

It’s a simple concept but what do you do when you get a bunch of leaders together?  What happens?  There is no longer one leader to follow so who mimics whom?

In today’s society, too many companies have leaders following one head honcho.  Supervisors follow the lead of their managers.  The managers follow in the footsteps of the coordinator or director.  But, in a First Class Leadership world, leaders break the rules and follow no one.

Instead of following along like a caravan of traveling vacationers, a leader needs to step up and break the mold.  They need to reinvent the way things are done and they need to show the other leaders how to succeed.

In some cases, “leaders” have been in leadership positions for some time and have been wondering along idlely.  They’ve grabbed at straws, had a success here and there, and maybe even made Employee of the Month.  However, this doesn’t define a leader.

A leader is the guy who is willing to stick his neck out for his team when no one else will.  A leader is the woman who buys her team lunch from her personal checking account instead of the corporate expense account.  A leader, above all, is the guy who shows appreciation for everyone he touches by having a generous and outgoing attitude – a person who will serve you, and break the mold, in a heartbeat.

Once you have broken the rules, you’ll start a series of chain reactions that won’t be easily halted.  First, your team will genuinely appreciate you and your efforts.  Therefore, they’ll work harder and in a more cohesive fashion.  Next, other “leaders” will look at you and become jealous.  They will want your success and will begin to imitate you by breaking the rules.  Finally, you’ll feel more alive and passionate about what you do because you know that you have made a substantial impact on the lives of the people you interact with each day.

Nothing shows leadership more than breaking the rules.  If you are willing to stand up, do the opposite of everyone else, and stick around for the tough consequences and conversations that follow, you’re a leader.  Title or no title, you’re a leader.

The first sign of a First Class Leader is their ability to break the rules.  So, here are a few things I’d like to challenge you to do:

• Compliment a few of your Facebook friends or Twitter followers today.  Yes, it’s not a #FollowFriday but that’s breaking the rules, eh?
• Recommend one or two LinkedIn connections.  Don’t wait for them to recommend you first.
• Do something for a coworker or friend today that you normally wouldn’t do.  Stick around for their reaction, too.
• Make a list of the rules present in your company and think of ways you can break them, both subtly and obviously.
• Make one day a week your rule-breaking day.  This is a day, once a week, that you’ll break the rules – buy someone lunch, compliment someone, reinvent a standard process, do more work than everyone else, and so on.

Being a First Class Leader and breaking the rules isn’t hard, it just requires a little more effort than you’d normally give.  Be “that” person.  Go above and beyond and take a step to becoming a true First Class Leader.

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Eric Alpin is the Associate Editor of Folk Media and works for a telecommunications company in Baltimore, Md. He is a social media enthusiast, blogger, writer, and student with a passion for leadership and self-development strategies and techniques. Find out more about Eric on Twitter.

*Photo by dlritter