Providing Leadership LIFT

LIFT is a powerful training model that builds
effective leadership and achievement. Giving a team or board  LIFT allows it to fly
high above clouds and see the world from new point of view.  It assumes each of us is a leader and that we
each spread our leadership wings when working on a highly effective team. The LIFT
philosophy is based an understanding  that effective leaders:

1) know
themselves and own their own impact, and

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These words can be how people describe you.

I know when I make a connection with someone it
sure is easier when I can figure out who they really are. Right from the
beginning. Instead of all that phoney baloney. Just the real person. Not some
‘persona’ or face they put on to act how they think they are supposed to with
me. Or tell me what they think I want to hear. No I mean the real thing. When a
person is talking from the heart, ...<< MORE >>

Feeling stagnant? Like you are in the same
place doing the same thing over and over?

Why not change the scenery?  Get up out of your chair or get away from the
computer screen. 

Every situation or task has more than one
perspective. Really. It doesn’t have to feel like such work. Try looking at
your work or current task in a new light. You might be surprised at what you
see and how you feel.

On the sidelines of the social media and networking discussion? I know how you feel.   I have been there. 

All those people talking about facebook. Come on. Face and Book are two different words. Why do I keep hearing them used together? What is this thing called Facebook anyway? Oh wait a minute, I heard about that a few years ago when a friend of mine said her college student posted some nasty pictures online and got in trouble with the athletic director.  It’s not the same as that facebook, is it?

Well, not me. I don’t need to put my pictures and all the news about my life on the internet. There are too many creeps out there. I’ll pass.  I am too private of a person to be telling everyone what I do all day long. 

What did you say? It will help with my job? Ok. Wait a minute. How do you expect me to believe that. You said I can make some connections? What kind of connections? For my business? Or just my old high school friends? How do those two types of connections actually intersect? I don’t see it yet.

Connections

I already know Why it’s comfortable to stay there. On the sidelines. Letting others talk about all their ‘friends’ on Facebook.

1.       I don’t have time to do it.

2.       My boss won’t let me use the internet for things like that.

3.       I don’t know how to use that  kind of technical stuff.

4.       I don’t want to catch up with those people from way back, I moved on.

5.       I can make all the connections I want the old way, thank you. Phone, mail, email

6.       I prefer to network face to face and in-person.

Why it’s important to get off the sidelines and get on the field

Personal Benefits

Yes, there are social and personal benefits.  Finding people and sending quick messages or seeing what and how they are doing can be very rewarding.  And stimulating.  And sometimes even funny. But don’t let that be your only reason for joining the internet savvy.

Business Benefits

Business is about relationships. With employees, with customers, with other business people.  You want to continue to grow and build relationships where you live and work in order to grow or maintain your business, right? Then make connections. Using social media. Build a page for your business. Find and make business connections (customers, peers, leaders) by using the tools yourself. It really does work. Your business will be more successful the more you branch out and grow.

How does this actually work?  I mean really. I don’t get it.

Make a ‘connection’. Make a ‘friend’. Become a ‘fan’. It all comes down to building trust with people. So get started. Create a quality relationship. This can be done using social media. Actually, sometimes it even makes it quicker, cheaper and easier. Quicker due to the speed of use of the internet, cheaper because use of the tools are FREE compared to traditional networking methods, and easier because you can start with something neutral (a comment, a picture, a survey or a game) and start a relationship of common interest. Then you can build a common ground to start getting to know the person.  Following what is really going on in their life and what is really important to them will help you get to know them better.  Find out what they are working on by reading and listening (yes, electronically). Then make a comment appropriate to what they have going on.  Let them read about you and your life. You will find people that you could both introduce to each other.  Or make as your friend.

When you see each other in person at an event or activity or maybe even at the store, you might remember what someone you see had ‘going on’ on Facebook. Or they might remember you. You can start a conversation using that common ground you have established. Without the awkward silence. Once you start talking, you will find that the conversation eventually leads to business related topics. Amazingly. Then later you find that you know someone who needs a service that your new found friend offers. Now that you have a relationship you can start to help each other. Because that’s what long-term mutual relationships are all about. Helping each other. Not ‘what can you do for me’ but ‘what can I do for you’ attitude.

You just might be surprised at how easy it is to get going.

So get off the sidelines. It’s easier than you think. Your life and business will be better for it.

*check out Action Leaders ‘Social Media Hands-on’ sessions available for only $25