“Success, both in business and personally, is something that’s consciously created.” – Robin Sharma, The Leader Who Had No Title

Today’s culture revolves around titles and accolades, accomplishments and scoring the best accounts. We see celebrities praised for blockbuster movies and athletes remembered for show-stopping plays. Society is obsessed with achieving greatness and spending the most money.

“Leaders” are no different. Those in management tend to think that fancy cars and corner offices are the life. Dinners purchased with company credit cards and international business meetings give off impressions of leadership and success.

But true leadership involves nothing mentioned above. In fact, no one needs a title, or fancy car or wads of money, to be a leader. They just need passion, determination, and a commitment to make the world a better place.

Over the next few days, I’m going to be sharing with you how to manage your social media campaign like a true leader. The concepts in the series will be pulled from Robin Sharma’s The Leader Who Had No Title. You need no title to be a great leader. You don’t need to be chief social media marketer or manager of the IT department. If you are determined to change the lives of others, this is for you.

You and your social media campaigns can have an impact on the world; you just need to unlock your inner leader.

The Title Conundrum

Our culture is obsessed with titles. The person with the best or highest ranking title is usually considered the “winner” and will get praise solely the few words that follow their name. However, titles undoubtedly lead to trouble. When a person is given a high ranking title, they put themselves above everyone else. Instead of being the leader they are called to be, the employee walks around like a king or queen, expecting everyone else to wait on them. All of this because of a title.

Leading without a title means that you put away the notions that one person is better than another and you work to benefit others. You are humble in your daily work routine. Instead of serving yourself, you serve others. Your vision of the world is not clouded by thoughts of self; instead, you think about how you can help the world.

No Title = No Limits

One of the first objections people normally have to the leading without a title concept is the perception that if you have no title, you won’t get the glory and money and benefits of the “titled” positions. This is not the case. In fact, it’s about the furthest from the truth that you can get.

If you are good at what you do, people will notice. If you continue to be good at what you do, people will praise you. If you consistently go above and beyond in the workplace, you will receive accolades that will make others jealous. Your determination means and willingness to help others will set you apart from even the people who have the big titles. Do you know why?

You are committed to making the world a better place, which is something that most corner office residents don’t even think about.

When you have no title, there are no limits on what you can do.

Leading Without A Title in Social Media

Now that you have an idea as to how you can begin to unleash the true leader within you, let’s focus on how you can apply the leader without a title principles to social media and marketing.

First, put your customers and clients before your business needs. Want to impress your clientele? Bend over backwards to serve them. Bring them customer service like they’ve never seen. As Seth Godin states in Linchpin, “Customers…crave the unique, the remarkable, and the human.” Deliver them something that they can’t get from another company–above and beyond loyalty to their needs.

Next, offer your help and expertise to those who want to learn. You are a knowledge base full wonderful thoughts and ideas. Don’t hold them inside; instead, share them with the people in your industry who need them the most. Ideas are copyrighted. Be diligent in serving others because they will return the favor when you need it the most.

Finally, put your new and innovative ideas into motion. Have you figured out an easy and simple method for creating customer Facebook pages of Twitter backgrounds? How about an easy to use program that notifies you whenever someone mentions you on Twitter or writes on your fan page wall? If you have a great idea for process improvement or making your industry thrive, go for it. As a leader without a title, you’re more concerned about the well-being of the world itself than just yourself. Share your resources, ideas, and passions with others.

Action Items

It’s time for you to begin leading without a title and having a greater impact on the the world. Here are a few action items for you to do today:

• List three ways that you can serve your current customer base. How can you “wow” them? What needs could you meet that you aren’t addressing right now?
• Join a LinkedIn Group or message board in order to help people in an area where you are strong. Good with Macs? Join the Apple users group. Really good with web programming? See if you can help solve some code problems on a forum.
• Tease out one idea you’ve been holding inside for a long time. What do you need to do to set it in motion? Whatever it is, do it.

As always, please share this article on the social networking site of your choice. Also, if you haven’t connected with us on Facebook or LinkedIn yet, come join us.

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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 pnijhuis

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

It’s over and the champions have received their trophy. Their first one, actually. On Sunday, February 7, 2010, the New Orleans Saints defeated the Indianapolis Colts in Super Bowl XLIV.

The Colts were favored to win the game. Analysts said that Peyton Manning and the Colts offense couldn’t be stopped but they were wrong. When the clock hit 0:00, the Saints began partying and the Colts caught a flight home.

So, how did the Saints do it and what does a football team have to do with you and your business? The Saints had the winning formula and if you know the formula, you can be just as successful.

Determination

The Saints found themselves in a 10-0 quickly after the game started. The Colts were explosive on offense and playing ruthless defense. But the Saints didn’t call it quits.

No matter what your situation, having determination can prove to be a vital aspect of success. If you look at any great individual – Abraham Lincoln, Thomas Edison, Margaret Thatcher – you will find determination. Lincoln failed at many of his professions before becoming president. Edison failed to create the lightbulb the first 1,000 times he tried. Thatcher’s decisions were publicly criticized every day she was in office. Did that stop them from being great? No, and your failures or set backs or critics shouldn’t stop you or your company.

The Saints held on and prevailed in Super Bowl XLIV. You will prevail, too.

Risks

The Saints didn’t play a textbook game by any means. On fourth and goal right before halftime, they elected to go for the touchdown instead of an easy three points. They ran a reverse play that lost seven yards. They did an onside kick to open the second half. Without their risks, the Saints would have let the championship slip away.

It’s pretty tempting to play it safe. It’s easy to go for the field goal when you could try for the touchdown. But, if you play it safe, you will never know you’re full potential. How can you know what works best if you don’t try new things? Analysis and research will only get you so far. At some point and time, you will need to decide if you should play it conservatively or risk it. If you play it conservative, you won’t lose anything. Then again, you won’t gain anything either.

The New Orleans Saints knew they weren’t going to beat the Colts playing it safe. Some of their risks went in their favor and some didn’t. But, in the end, they found greatness and glory.

Passion

If you compared the game play of a Colts and a Saints player, you would probably notice that the Saints player had more passion. He had more pep in his step. I’m not saying the Colts didn’t care about the game because they most certainly did but they weren’t playing at the same level as the Saints.

Whether you’re reading this article because you’re looking to improve your business or your personal life, you need passion. Do the following words describe you at home or at work – lethargic, routine, simple, mellow, standard? If you can safely say that one or more of those words describe you on a regular basis, it’s time for a passion assessment. When you have passion, you will be willing to go the extra mile and you will be engulfed in learning and growing. Consider passion to be the catalyst for determination and taking risks. Without passion, determination and taking risks wouldn’t be possible. Be passionate and everything else will fall into place.

Every member of the Saints had passion during the Super Bowl. The outcome may have been different without it. Consider it an essential element in your personality toolbox. It really can make a difference.

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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 vancanjay

Let’s face it – Twitter can be a tough marketing tool to manage.  Although messages are only 140 characters, it can be pretty difficult to maintain your brand, let alone your sanity.  In order to make up for these hardships, people take the easy way out and begin to follow a thousand users every day, hoping that once a magic number is reached their troubles will vanish.  Not so much.

The key is to engage your Twitter followers.  It’s a tough task, believe me, but it can be done.  I’m going to give you nine ways to engage your Twitter followers.  If you can successfully manage these nine concepts, you’re well on your way to effective Twitter leadership.

9.  Actively maintain various Twitter lists.

Twitter lists allow for a user to create a list of users who fall into a common category.  A user can create a list for any group of people, including professional athletes, family, and locals.  The key is to create and maintain a variety of Twitter lists.  If a follower sees their name on a list, they are more likely to place your username on one of their lists.  The more lists you’re on, the more publicity you can receive.

8.  Become efficient with hashtags.

Hashtags are statements preceded with the pound sign (#) that usually denote a particular event or feeling.  For example, if you’re attending or watching the Super Bowl, you might use the hashtag #superbowl in your tweets.  Hashtags can be searched and tracked; therefore, increasing your publicity and engagement with other users.

7.  Post useful information.

Although you can tweet about anything you’d like, it would be best if you provided useful information to your followers.  Most people don’t follow someone on Twitter because they like their hair or username.  Usually solid information has something to do with it.  If you veer from posting helpful or thought-provoking information, you will begin to lose followers and the trust of those who continue to follow you.

6.  Follow people who produce valuable content.

This point goes hand-in-hand with number seven.  In Twitterland, quality is far more important than quantity.  Some would argue that when you have more followers, you increase your chances of great PR.  Wrong.  Having a small number of followers whom you can engage with is far better than having 900+ spammers and advertisers on your “Following” list.

5.  Suggest interesting people for others to follow.

If you are following someone who always posts interesting or useful content, recommend them to your followers.  The most popular way to do this is through Follow Fridays.  On Fridays, simply list the interesting users you follow and place the “#FF” or #FollowFriday” hashtag at the end of your tweet.  These hashtags let other users know that you are recommending people for them to follow.  As a general rule of thumb, if someone recommends you, be sure to recommend them at some point.  The more people you recommend, the more people who recommend you.

4.  Don’t be afraid to say “Thanks.”

Make sure that you thank the people you interact with on Twitter.  When you do, this implies a more sincere and genuine relationship, even if you’ve never talked before.  Saying “thank you” is not a bad thing.  In fact, a simple “thank you” for a retweet or a follow can make the difference down the road when someone is purging useless users from their Twitter stream.  Don’t forget your manners.

3.  Use direct messages when necessary.

Direct messages, or DMs, are a great tool to use when interacting with a user about something that shouldn’t be public.  For example, if you are talking to a user about their account settings, you should use DMs and not a simple reply.  Also, DMs make people feel more unique because they aren’t messages posted to the public Twitter stream.  When a user feels unique, the chances that they will stick around and engage with you increase dramatically.

2.  Retweet useful content.

Be sure to retweet useful content you come across on Twitter.  Retweets, or republished tweets, are very important in the Twitter world.  When you retweet, your Twitter followers can learn about information published by other people they may not be following.  It’s kind of like a Follow Friday but for only one user.  This is a great opportunity to show others that you care about what they’re saying and, in turn, they will continue to follow you.

1.  Don’t be shy with your replies.

If you have a reaction, thought, or other useful information to someone’s tweet, reply to them with what you’re thinking.  The ct of replying can start conversation and can lead to many great things (following, lists, partnerships, meetups, etc.).  Don’t be afraid to share your reactions.  That is why people publish content in the first place.

Engaging with people on Twitter is a tough task but if you follow the points above, you should have a firm grasp on the essentials of Twitter leadership.  To learn more about Twitter leadership, check out 21 Days to Twitter Leadership by Joel Mark Witt.  Happy tweeting!

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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 spekulator

Throughout the series, we have covered many aspects of growing your tribe.  First, we discussed that knowing yourself, your tribe, and the goals of your tribe was a solid foundation for a successful movement.  Next, we learned that believing in yourself and your tribe is essential.  Without belief, no one will trust you or have passion for your ideas.

Third, we talked about building a community and how it was necessary to find a medium of interaction, encourage connection, and stay out of the way.  The fourth section discussed the idea of persevering through difficult times.  Perseverance consists of keeping the big picture in mind and always striving to move forward.  If you have implemented the ideas of the first four sections, you are well on your way to growing your tribe.

In the final part of the series, we’re going to cover the aspect of growing.  Growing is the final step in the tribe building process.  As you have persevered through difficulties, you have learned a lot about yourself, your tribe, personalities, processes, and much more.  It’s time to put that knowledge to good use.

The growing stage consists of three steps – assessing what you’ve learned, implementing new ideas, and gathering feedback.  Each step is vitally important in the growth process and will allow for your tribe to be successful in the present and in the future.

Assessing What You’ve Learned

It is easy to get caught in the hype of growing a tribe.  It’s a great thing and is definitely something to be excited about.  Although it’s an exhilarating experience, you can’t forget about learning.  Learning is the only way to become a better leader and to grow your tribe.  Whether it is learning from mistakes, personality conflicts, or tribe members, it is necessary to learn.

When talking about growing a tribe, learning is the secret ingredient.  Technically, you and your tribe can make it with an unstable foundation, little belief, and a world of problems.  But, if you don’t learn from all of that, your tribe will cease and your leadership abilities will be compromised.

There are a lot of moving parts to a tribe so I suggest writing down what you have learned.  Writing the information on a piece of paper or typing it in a document will allow for you to reflect on it and keep a record of it.  Plus, it allows for you to just get things out of your overworked mind.

Learn from your successes and failures.  Realize what you have done right and what you could have done better.  When you don’t learn, you don’t thrive.

Implementing New Ideas

Now that you have learned a thing or two about your tribe and how you got to where you are today, it’s time to implement some new ideas or concepts.  When you implement new ideas, you are making a commitment to a greater future for you and your tribe.  What could be better than that?

The first step in implementing new ideas is to associate what you have learned with action steps that can be taken.  An action step is just that – a process that requires action.  For example, “creating a forum on the website” would be an action step.  It’s a process that requires action.  These action steps can be completed by yourself or the tribe.

Be sure to create specific action steps.  If your action steps are vague, it will be difficult to know if you completed them.  An example of a vague action step would be “create a better website.”  How do you know if the website is better?  What makes up a “better website?”

After you have created your action steps, do them.  Don’t wait until next week or next month.  Do them now.  Seth Godin notes in Tribes, “The best time to change your business model is when you have momentum.” (pg. 94).  You have the drive needed to complete your action steps.  If you wait, you will be disappointed that you did.

Gathering Feedback

Once you have completed your action steps, it is time to gather feedback about the changes you have made.  Feedback can sometimes be a tough pill to swallow but you must keep in mind that you are not receiving feedback for the betterment of yourself.  Instead, the feedback you gather is the the betterment of the tribe.  It’s not about you; it’s about them.

When you gather feedback, be sure to actually listen.  As humans, we often “check out” in the middle of a conversation if we don’t like what we are hearing or if we’re distracted.  Don’t check out.  Godin notes, “The secret…is to listen, to value what you hear.” (pg. 128)  Without listening, how do you expect to grow your tribe?

Although you will receive feedback from a variety of sources, I suggest gathering feedback form your tribe before anyone else.  Your tribe members are the individuals fighting the battle with you.  They are the people impacted by the changes you have made.  Their feedback is essential in making the processes, both old and new, work.  After receiving feedback from tribe members, solicit feedback from outsiders, experts and other leaders, if possible.  This will give you a well-rounded idea about the impact your changes have made.

Assessing what you have learned, implementing new ideas, and gathering feedback will enable you to grow yourself and your tribe.  Each process serves its own specific purpose and together, they will allow for you to execute the changes that need to be made in order to better the tribe.  Growing is essential to a tribe.  If you don’t grow, you can’t have an impact.

Series Conclusion

Thank you for journeying with me through this series.  I hope that it has been an eye opener and inspiration for you.  The steps to growing a tribe – knowing, believing, building, persevering, and growing – will be true no matter where you decide to lead.  All that matters is that you have made a commitment to lead.  Remember, we need you to lead us.

If you have any questions, concerns, or comments about the series, I would love to hear from you.  Feel free to email me or find me on Twitter.

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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 Thiru Murugan

Thus far, we have covered the first three steps in growing your tribe – knowing, believing, and building.  Without these three steps, your tribe would be non-existent or barely hanging on.  If you need a refresher on any of these steps, feel free visit the respective articles before continuing.

Once you have completed the first three steps, it is time to begin persevering.  You’re probably asking, “Why do I need to persevere?”  Well, it’s because you’re going to face adversity, disappointment, and challenges the size of mountains.  If you haven’t encountered the bumpy road yet, count yourself lucky.  However, it’ll come soon enough.

There is good news – difficulties are helpful.  Benjamin Franklin once said, “If it hurts, it instructs.”  We can’t grow and learn if we don’t face difficulties.  Does the student who already knows Geometry learn anything in an Algebra class?  No.  He will learn in a Calculus class when his patience, thinking, and logic are tested.  The same concept is true when you are growing your tribe.  The difficulties within the tribe will ultimately help the tribe in the future.

Also, difficulties make a leader.  In Tribes, Seth Godin states, “Leadership is scarce because few people are willing to go through the discomfort required to lead.” (pg. 55)  The discomforts in life allow for a leader to be shaped and sculpted.

When persevering through tough times, it is important to remember the big picture and to always have one foot forward.  These two concepts will help you turn your darkest night into the brightest day.

The Big Picture

I don’t like to use the term “big picture” too often because it’s overused.  But, in this case, I feel it is necessary to use it.  While growing your tribe, knowing the bigger picture is a necessity.  Remember, you are putting your tribe before yourself.  Humility allows for the bigger picture to come into focus.  With humility, you can see how things connect and you can realize that difficulties will turn positive at some point.

Let me warn you – do not bypass resolving an issue because of the belief that it will work itself out in the end.  Such a mindset will only hurt your tribe and it will diminish your movement.  When a difficult situation arises, address the issue, find a solution that works for all parties involved, and persevere.  The bigger picture, the future if you will, is what matters but you will never see it if you don’t address the conflicts of today.

One Foot Forward

Having one foot forward is the second step in persevering.  The last thing you want is to be idle or moving backward.  However, keeping one foot forward is easier said than done.  Moving forward isn’t about routinely choosing one thing over the other; it is about the risk associated with choosing one thing over the other.

You might think the best option is always the choice with the largest amount of risk.  With the largest amount of risk, there is usually a large amount to gain.  However, this isn’t always the case.  The best choice to make when analyzing risk, especially when growing a tribe, is the choice that is most logical in your situation.  Sometimes it is good to take fewer risks and progressively move forward.  Other times, big risks are ultimately better.  Whatever logically makes the most sense and moves you forward, go for it.

Above all else, always make wise decisions but don’t take a passive approach.  If you boycott risks that move your tribe forward, even the small ones, you are hurting yourself and the progress of the movement.  Be bold in your choices.  Reluctance is not perseverance.

Also, you want to get in the habit of consulting your tribe, or at least a few of its trusted members, before making a decision.  This will hold you accountable and show you are the leader to claim to be – trustworthy and humble.

Moving forward prevents stagnation and boredom within your tribe.  In order to grow and to enhance your movement, one foot must always be in from of the other.

Perseverance is a necessary part of growing your tribe.  Conflicts will arise and choices will need to be made.  When persevering, recognize the bigger picture and always progress forward.  Without seeing the bigger picture, your needs are put before the needs of the tribe.  It’s not about you; it’s about them.  As you’re making choices, remember that the question isn’t “How can I move forward?”  The question is “Am I willing to take the risk to move forward?”

When you feel knocked down and hopeless, remember this quote from Godin, “One person with a persistent vision can make change happen.” (pg. 77)  Go.  Lead.  Persevere.

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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 kk+

In the first two parts of this series, we discussed growing your tribe through knowing and believing.  If you don’t know yourself, your potential tribe, and the goals of the tribe, you won’t have a solid foundation for a productive and active community of followers.  Believing in yourself and in your tribe is essential – without belief, no one will trust you or become a part of your tribe.

The next step to growing your tribe is to build a community.  A community is not just a band of believers or people with a common trait; it is an inspired group of people willing to spread your message without hesitation.  One you have built your community, your tribe will take shape and will begin to grow.

There are three action steps for building your community – establish a medium of interaction, connect, and get out of the way.

Your Medium of Interaction

Before you can establish your tribe, you need to decide the primary method of communication between tribe members.  If you do not have a predetermined method of communication, your tribe will not be able to function as a community.

With the advancement of technology, it’s fairly easy to say that you’ll use the Internet as your medium of interaction.  Before you slate the Internet as your definite source of communication, ask yourself the following questions:

• What aspect of the Internet will my tribe use?  Social networking websites?  Blogs?  Forums?  Email distribution lists?
• Is the Internet really the best form of communication for my tribe?  Is my tribe localized enough to meet in person?  Would conference calls be sufficient for tribe members?

Connect

Connecting is one of the most rewarding aspects about being part of a tribe.  Connection allows for the tribe to freely interact with one another and serve as a role model for people interested in your tribe or becoming a part of another tribe.  Connect with your tribe.  Allow for members to connect with one another.  It’s a staple of your movement.

Get Out of the Way

Out of the three parts of building a community, you’d probably say that this step is the least necessary or the one that doesn’t matter.  Contrary to popular belief, stepping back from your tribe is a very important step in the community building process.

Imagine this: your boss assigns you to a new project.  She tells you to assemble a team of five co-workers and begin immediately.  You assemble your team and begin to work.  Although you’re keeping her informed and asking questions when necessary, she always comes to you and checks in on the status of the project.  She makes sure you’re using the right resources, typing the right information, and meeting deadlines.  You can’t get any work done without her being over your shoulder.

See what it’s like when you don’t step back from your tribe?  You smother your followers, restricting communication and lowering trust.  You actually slow progress when you don’t know when to back off.

This step isn’t a free pass to forget your tribe.  That isn’t the case at all.  There is a fine line between stepping back and walking away.  When you get out of the way of your tribe, you are entrusting them to take initiative and will help along the way if necessary.  Walking away signifies that you don’t want to lead your tribe any longer.

Stepping back builds the character of your tribe members and leads to a stronger community.  When you micromanage and constantly bombard your tribe, you hurt their movement.  As Godin states, “Deciding to lead, not manage, is the critical choice.” (pg. 52)

Building a community allows for you to meet the needs of your followers and enables them to grow inside and outside of the tribe.  Building a strong community will this show that you are a great leader and it will inspire you to continue expand your community.  Remember, the size of your community doesn’t matter; it is the connection that counts.

When building your community of followers, keep in mind what really matters: “Growing a tribe of committed, talented people who are spreading a message of empowerment, respect, and growth.” (pg. 26)

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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

We discussed that the first step in building a tribe was all about knowing – knowing yourself, your potential tribe, and the goals of your tribe.  It is critical to have an understanding of this information because this will serve as the foundation for your tribe.  Without knowing yourself, your tribe, or the goals of your tribe, you will be out of touch with yourself and your followers.

After you have discovered that you display genuine leadership characteristics and that your tribe is waiting, you must believe in your tribe and yourself.  As the leader, if you believe in what you’re doing, your tribe will believe, too.  In his book, Tribes, Seth Godin notes “Tribes are about faith – about belief in an idea and in a community.  And they are grounded in respect and admiration for the leader of the tribe and for the other members as well.” (pg. 9)  Belief goes a long way when establishing your tribe.

Believe in Yourself

In a society that dwells on failures and fallacies, it is sometimes hard to believe in yourself.  All to often, once you believe in yourself, someone calls you out and shatters your high self esteem.  As the leader of a tribe, it is important to always believe in yourself, even when the critics are tearing you down.  How do you expect someone else to buy into your message if you don’t believe what you’re saying?

Individuals often criticize because someone is being different.  This can range from dressing differently to reinventing processes in the office.  Everyone loves to criticize the revolutionaries of our society.

However, revolutionaries are leaders.

Think about this: how do things change?  How does new legislation pass?  How does a new style of music catch on?  How do new company policies take effect?  Everything changes because people are willing to step up, take a risk, and stick around to see what happens.

Godin states, “Heretics must believe.  More than anyone else in an organization, it’s the person who’s challenging the status quo, the one who is daring to be great, who is truly present and not just punching a clock who must have confidence in her beliefs.” (pg. 49, emphasis Godin)”

Commit to yourself and believe in what you’re doing, no matter what the critics are saying.

Believe in Others

After believing in yourself, you must believe in your tribe.  When you believe in your tribe, awesome things happen.  Seemingly impossible tasks are completed and your tribe begins to function as a community.  Belief breaks down barriers.

Although believing in your tribe is essential, it is not enough; you must convey your belief.  Your tribe must feel like they are trusted.  A great way to convey your belief is to have uninhibited communication between the tribe leader and members.  Communication without barriers gives your followers the notion that you trust them and are confident in their ability to function as a tribe.  Once your tribe feels trusted, they will begin to spread the word about your movement and before you know it, your tribe begins to grow.  Without belief in others, your tribe will slowly fade.

Having faith in yourself and others is the second essential step in growing your tribe.  If you don’t believe in yourself, who do you think will believe in you?  If you don’t believe in others, how will your tribe connect and grow?  Belief, simply stated, is the lifeblood of your tribe.  Don’t go without it.

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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 Clearly Ambiguous