Take a moment and ask yourself these two questions:

- How are we encouraging hope in those around us?

- How are we helping to grow the leaders of tomorrow?

I once wrote about the roles of companies needing to team-build differently, and I think some of the ideas mentioned in that post can help.

But they’re not the complete answer – they just look at what companies can do.

We also have to look at what we’re doing every single day, both in our own lives and our professional lives.

Like it or not, we’re all acting in a role of leadership with every action we do.

• Our reactions to situations and people around us shape the mindset of today’s kids, tomorrow’s leaders. We swear; they swear. We smoke; they smoke. We do drugs; they do drugs. If we’re not setting the example, how can we expect our kids to?

• How we work with colleagues dictates how we lead our workforce. Even if we’re not managers, we’re part of a decision-making process that defines that company’s culture and success. Work smart; work intelligently; work respectfully.

• Our voices define our outlook. Disagree with something or someone by all means, but respect their view to differ. Religion; simple points of view; movie tastes, etc – wouldn’t it be boring if we were all the same? Make your point but allow more than yours.

• Speaking for the voiceless when words aren’t enough. Actions speak louder than words – know someone that’s right but afraid to say so? Say it for them – don’t be a passer-by when the slightest encouragement can offer so much hope.

None of us are born leaders – that takes time to cultivate. Even then, leadership is born from respect of our peers, employers, friends and colleagues. People earn leadership – bought leadership is just politics.

Leaders make changes that others wish for but never act on. Imagine if we encouraged everyone around us to be leaders in their own right?

Think Bigger Than You originally appeared on Danny Brown | Social Media Marketing Blog - The Human Side of Media and the Social Side of Marketing under a Creative Commons license.

I have a problem with the term “thought leader”.

According to Dictionary.com, “leader” is described this way:

- noun
a person or thing that leads.
a guiding or directing head, as of an army, movement, or political group.

We all know what a thought is, so no real need to go to a dictionary for that. So, put the two of them together to get thought leader, and we’re basically saying someone that leads an army just by their thoughts alone.

Since we’re not living in The Matrix yet, this is where my problem with the term thought leader comes in, and offering someone that title.

We don’t lead people’s thoughts.

People aren’t so dumb that they need someone to lead the way to have a thought. People don’t need to be taken by the hand and led to a big Thought River where they’re then instructed to drink from it by the almighty Leader.

No. People have their own thoughts every single day. Some make it into an action stage. Some don’t.

But they’re not led to that place, or that revelation. They’re not waiting in a holding pattern until the next megastar blogger or speaker or author or celebrity comes along and leads the way.

To lead is to direct. How do you direct any thoughts but your own? Besides, thoughts are intangible until put into action. If there is any reaction from someone else’s thoughts, then it’s after the intangible has become tangible.

A reaction to an action. So it’s more thought reaction than thought leadership.

I read two great posts today about “thought leadership”. Both spoke about some of the people and thoughts that are meant to have us nod sagely and proclaim them as thought leaders.

Geoff and Doug both make bang-on points about why this type of thinking is bogus, and why thought leadership is a conflict in terms just waiting to happen.

You don’t need to be led. No-one does. At least, not when it comes to thoughts. You might need to be led in a new job until you’re familiar with the set-up, or how to please your new partner in bed until you know what makes them tick.

But thought leadership? Something doesn’t sit right with that term.

If anything, it should be thought breedership. There’s a ton of folks offering their thoughts on a variety of topics, and they (rightly so) inspire you to action.

But they don’t lead you to action.

Maybe we should be talking thought breedership instead. I guess the problem is, because everyone can breed thoughts in others, it might just upset those that want to be known as thought leaders.

And we couldn’t have that now, could we?

image: AsGood

The Problem with Thought Leadership originally appeared on Danny Brown | Social Media Marketing Blog - The Human Side of Media and the Social Side of Marketing under a Creative Commons license.

“You miss 100% of the shots you never take.” — Wayne Gretzky.

Think about that. Take it outside the ice hockey equation that Gretzky used it on and apply it to anywhere – life, business, relationships, goals. How many are you actually aiming for and how many are you striking out blindly at?

Are you happy with where you are?

Have you reached the plateau that you set for yourself when you took to the playing field? Is your job just satisfying or does it fill your creative needs?

How are you using the tools and the people around you to benefit both parties? Are you playing a team role to attack goal, or are you being selfish with the puck? Do the fans call your name or the team’s? What’s more important?

What are you doing to improve your business? Are you reining it in and hoping that the bad times will pass, or are you thinking of new tactics to confuse the opposition and win new fans? How’s your coach – is he/she a leader or does the team need better guidance?

Wayne Gretzky was a leader on the ice and continues to be one off it as well. His shots were always 100% with intent.

How’s your aim?

image: kk+

The Value of Effort originally appeared on Danny Brown | Social Media Marketing Blog - The Human Side of Media and the Social Side of Marketing under a Creative Commons license.