You’ve heard the phrase “natural born leader.” But what if you aren’t a natural born leader? How do you go about acquiring the skills and tools and the confidence to become a leader in your own right?

Hopefully, you are learning what it takes to be productive and to help those on your team to be productive as well. One way to increase your leadership “productivity” is to turn to social media and online communities. Where to turn though?

Basecamp

Project management is a skill every leader needs. Being a leader means being able to communicate effectively to a team, and that comes into play big time when you have a goal to meet. Basecamp is an online community where you can effectively manage projects from the development stage through the final product.

You can create projects, add checklists, start discussions with your team, upload multiple files to the same place and even keep your team informed with an updateable calendar.

Another reason Basecamp can help sharpen your leadership productivity skills? You can keep everyone up-to-date even when they’re out of town, out of the office or just out of the loop. Basecamp provides daily recaps, and gives you the ability to go back to different days to see any progress that was made.

iGoogle

An effective leader is informed. That could mean anything from staying on top of news in your industry to keeping tabs on breaking news in different fields. iGoogle is a great way to do both.

Setting up iGoogle only takes seconds and customizes your Google page to your preferences. Select different areas of searches you want to be informed of, and they’ll be there waiting for you in your own personalized Google dash.

Why is this important for leadership productivity skills? By staying informed and reading various articles, you can get ideas for brainstorming as well as seeing what’s new in your line of business.

/NOTE/ iGoogle will no longer be available after November 1, 2013.

HootSuite

Leaders need to have great organization and communication skills. Whether you’re managing a group of people, or managing details of your own life, you need a way to keep track of things. HootSuite is a great way to keep an eye on many moving parts, all at once.

Think of HootSuite like a real-time dashboard. You can manage multiple social media sites from one platform, schedule messages ahead of time and have complete control over your social networks. You’ll learn time management as well as become an expert at handling many things at once.

Trello

Trello is an online tool that you can share and use for quick and fluid communication. When it comes to building leadership qualities, flexibility is one of those things that you need to have in your arsenal. Being able to expect the unexpected and handle quick changes is an irreplaceable trait.

Trello lets you invite members to your “board.” There you can make tasks quickly and easily, assign people to tasks, and move them in real time. Need to make a quick change? No problem. Trello is an accommodating site that lets you change and update tasks incredibly easily.

When changes are being made, it can be hard to keep up – Trello has a real-time tracker so you can see who is doing what at what time.

Trello is also great for strategic development. Lead your team through different brainstorms and ideas by posting thoughts on a Trello board.

Twitter

Yup, Twitter. Even though this is a social site everyone is familiar with, it is a weapon that many successful leaders and CEOs use. Why? It’s the clearest and simplest form of online communication.

You can connect instantly with hundreds and thousands of people, share ideas, create hype with hashtags, make yourself relatable and strengthen relationships.

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With all of these online options for you, it makes it easier and more convenient to become a productive leader. Make sure have  reliable local internet options to prepare you for your online leadership.

The most dramatic moments occur when one of the players at the table utters two words…

All In.

photo credit: Reza Vaziri via photopin cc

Most of the time, this means the player is putting all of his or her chips on the table. It’s typically an all or nothing move. Get the winning hand and you play on. Lose the hand and you’re done for the day.

You can feel the excitement and intensity rise in the room when those words are uttered. Sometimes a player will call “all in” because he is sure that his hand will win the round. Other times, a player knows this is a last ditch effort to remain in the game.

While I don’t know a lot about poker or all of the nuances to playing Texas Hold’em, I do know a little something about going “all in.”

You and I live in a society that struggles with the notion of going all in. We’re losing our ability to focus on the present moment. We are getting comfortable with going partly or mostly in.

How many times have you experienced the following?

• You’re at a table with friends and everyone has their phone out.
• You choose to sit in the back row instead of the front row.
• You don’t say yes to something because you might get a better offer.
• You commit to nothing in order to keep your options open.
• You are present physically but your mind and attention is somewhere else.

Everything on this list is a tendency I have to battle against in my own life. Each one stands in the way of my ability to go all in with the people and experiences in my life.

If this sounds like you as well, I think we need to challenge ourselves. I want you and I to live this day in such a way that we go all in with the people we are with and the projects we need to accomplish!

Going all in with the people and experiences in our life is similar to the Texas Hold’em table because it raises the intensity of the moment. We are willing to be fully present and fully engaged with those around us. We bring our absolute best to the projects and activities and work we do.

There are tremendous benefits to being the type of person who is willing to go all in.

1. It’s contagious.

When you raise the bar, it raises the bar for those around you. Your actions and attention actually draw others into the conversation and experience. When you are fully present, it’s more difficult for those around you to disengage. Your example may be the very thing that encourages the other members of your team to go all in.

2. It gives you a greater return.

It is more than a cliche’ – you get out of it what you put into it. If you sit on the back row of a concert, you’re going to miss all of the excitement and energy that occurs on the front row. You learn more on the front row of class than you do on the back row (here’s some research). When you give your best you will have a greater sense of satisfaction. You and I both know when we’ve put forth a half-hearted effort. At the end of the day, do you want to reflect on your day by saying, “I wish I would have…” or by saying, “I’m so glad I…”?

3. You grow.

You won’t grow by remaining in your comfort zone. You grow when you’re stretched beyond your ordinary contribution. The Law of the Rubber Band states that you are most useful when you are being stretched. Being stuck in life isn’t as much about your failure as it is about your focus. Going all in requires us to downsize and simplify. We can’t go all in on everything. When we say yes to something it also means no to other things. Going all in helps us to focus on giving our absolute best to what’s most important.

Maybe you feel like your life isn’t moving forward. You aren’t making much progress on your Plan A because you keep trying to juggle all of the details of your Plan B, C, D, and E. Maybe it’s time to focus all of your heart and soul on that one thing. I know it feels risky. I know it can be scary. I also know there’s a big difference between partly in and all in.

Take the challenge for today…live this day in such a way that you go all in with the people you are with and the projects we need to accomplish!

My answer: yes and no.

I answer “yes” because I think every person has the potential and the responsibility to lead oneself well. I believe leadership does start with you. You and I must learn, practice, and hone our ability to lead our own selves well.

photo credit: theloushe via photopin cc

But I also answer “no.” Not everyone is equipped or capable of leading others well. While we all have some level of influence with those around us, it takes a special person to step up and inspire, organize, and move a group of people in a certain direction…together.

In a room full of people, I encourage everyone to lead themselves well. But not everyone will be called upon to be a leader of others.

Here are some of the characteristics I look for in determining those who show potential in leading others.

You might be a leader if…

1. You want to make a difference.

2. You are more people-oriented than task-oriented.

3. You are a lifelong learner and grow from each experience.

4. You admit your mistakes and you own your shortcomings.

5. You help others answer the question of “What now?” and “What’s next?”

6. You consistently maintain good character in both the good and bad times.

7. You aren’t content with the way things are and you can envision a better future.

8. You are able to bring a diverse group of people together around a common cause.

9. You don’t have to rely on a position or title in order to inspire and motivate other people.

10. You show the initiative to move forward with your dreams by enlisting others and acquiring resources.

11. You are willing to take responsibility for a problem and unwilling to blame others for your circumstances.

12. You have ideas and dreams that are bigger than your skills and can only be accomplished with the help of others.

Another aspect of good leadership is the ability to see potential in others.

What other characteristics would you add to this list for identifying potential leaders?

Would they learn to trust each other?

Every new year is full of excitement and anticipation. But the one big difference between the teams that overcome the obstacles and the ones who get blown apart by the barriers is found in one basic characteristic…trust.

photo credit: mikebaird via photopin cc

Patrick Lencioni, in what I consider to be one of the best leadership books for teams, The Five Dysfunctions Of A Team, states the following:

“Remember teamwork begins by building trust. And the only way to do that is to overcome our need for invulnerability.”

He goes on later in the book to say…

“Great teams do not hold back with one another. They are unafraid to air their dirty laundry. They admit their mistakes, their weaknesses, and their concerns without fear of reprisal.”

Building trust with your team and teammates is foundational to the success of your team. 

You may have charisma, an outstanding talent, the ability to communicate well, and the most capable team on the planet. But if your people don’t trust you or trust each other, you’ll never achieve the things you set out to accomplish. When you inspire trust, you increase the morale of your team, you limit frustration and skepticism, and you are better able to hold on to the people whom you need the most. Trust will affect your results as a leader more than anything else.

Just because you all wear the same uniform or t-shirt doesn’t mean that trust is automatic. It doesn’t come with the title you were elected or selected to bear. You must earn trust…from day one…and every day after that. Here are six ways I believe you can earn and build trust from others. They are not quick fix remedies. It’s not about doing it once. These are lifestyle behaviors that will earn you the trust necessary to lead your team well.

1. Be vulnerable.

Over the last year, I’ve had the opportunity to share with people about my biggest mistakes. I don’t do it for pity. I do it because I want people to know who I am and who I am becoming as a result of the mistakes I’ve made. When I am real and authentic with people, it gives them permission to be open and honest with me about where they are at in life. People aren’t looking for a leader who is perfect, they’re looking for one who is honest.

2. Take responsibility for the consequences of team decisions.

Responsibility is the greatest requirement of leadership. When a decision goes right, the leader should be quick to praise the people around him or her. When a decision goes wrong, the first person to take responsibility should be the leader. Point the finger at yourself at the point of failure and you will earn the respect of those around you. So many people want to place blame on anyone and anything other than themselves. A leader who takes responsibility for both decision and consequence is rare.

3. Coach people up…not down.

When you witness someone making a mistake or moving in a wrong direction you have a choice in how you’ll respond. You can berate or belittle this person or you can inspire and motivate this person to do better. We have all been under the guidance of someone who pushed us to do our best without making us feel inferior. Every time you correct someone you have the opportunity to increase their belief in themselves as well as improve their behavior.

4. Respond well to failure.

Whether you like it or not, you are an example to others. You get to choose each day what type of example you will be. Add to that the fact that every single one of us will fail or make a mistake at some point. Once we acknowledge that, it’s only a matter of deciding how we will respond to our failures. A healthy response involves acknowledging the mistake and learning from what went wrong. When you constantly repeat a mistake, it only tells us that you’re not paying attention.

When you respond appropriately to your own failure, you give those around you permission to learn from their own mistakes. If you try to hide your mistakes, you only frustrate those around you who are well aware and wish you’d been more honest with them and with yourself.

5. Make room for discussion, not division.

I hope you haven’t created a team of people who agree on everything and see life from the same perspective. What a boring and myopic team if that’s what you have. When you gather people of diverse viewpoints and ideas, you create opportunity for innovation and immense creativity. Different perspectives are a great asset if you don’t allow them to divide your team. This is why it’s important to create space for discussion. You want to allow people to be heard and appreciated. If your first response is to judge someone because their view is different than your own, you will limit the potential of your team.

You will know that you have begun to build trust on your team when you move beyond acknowledging the differences between each member and begin appreciating those differences and what they contribute to the team.

6. Find the gold.

Having lived in Northern California for a period of my life, I know a little bit about mining for gold. It is a tedious process. As in most mining efforts, you have to move a lot of dirt. Nobody is looking for or celebrating the dirt because there is so much of it. The goal is to find the gold.

As a leader, you realize that each person is gifted in special and unique ways. Every person can make a contribution. Your job is to find ways to incorporate these gifts for the betterment of the team and the accomplishment of your goals. Along the way, we may grow frustrated by a lack of progress or improvement. But the leader is constantly on the lookout for those moments of greatness in the people he or she serves. Sometimes the people on your team can’t see past all of the dirt in their lives. Your greatest contribution may be found in your willingness and dedication to continually point out the potential that lies within them.

. . . . . . .

In conclusion, I believe it is vital for every team to do the hard work necessary to build trust with each other. When difficulties come, it will be our unwavering faith in each other that keeps the team together and helps us to overcome the obstacles. Trust is more than wearing the same uniform, it is wanting the best for the other person and believing that he or she feels the same way toward us.

Leave me a comment: What are some other ways you’ve build trust with others?

In the midst of the demands, it’s easy to begin to live from event to event…from one task to the next. When that happens, you will find yourself trying to play catch-up all year. You may miss out on what can be a great experience for you. A school year is demanding, both mentally and physically. Those intense weeks of learning, reading, and studying – coupled with your other involvements and responsibilities – can be draining.

My hope is that you will start off your student leadership year the right way. Before you become overwhelmed, I want you to think about how to implement each of these four strategies. This is simple advice for student leaders (or most any student) who want to get the M.O.S.T. out of the opportunities they’ll encounter during their student leadership year.

Manage your year

Each year you make some commitments. Those commitments are based on your academic schedule, your extra-curricular involvements, your friendships, and your other responsibilities. You’ve even made some commitments to yourself. Now it’s time to manage those commitments.

Get out your calendar and write everything down on it. Look at it every week to give yourself an idea of what lies ahead. Look at it every day to remind yourself of what’s expected of you and to reflect on what you just experienced. Keep a calendar as your constant companion and make sure you make time for what’s most important.

Managing what’s most important is called prioritizing. Every commitment is not on equal footing. Keeping some sense of balance in your life requires constant correction. Spread yourself too thin and you’ll find that you don’t have the energy for excellence or the time to be terrific at anything.

Be Others-focused

That’s right – getting the MOST out of your semester isn’t all about you. In fact, the most rewarding experiences you have during your semester will involve doing things for others. As Zig Ziglar says, “If you help enough other people get what they want, then you’ll discover you get what you want.” Listen to others. Help others. Serve others.

It’s easy to get busy and start living from event to event, project to project. When you do that, the focus tends to be on yourself and everything you’re experiencing. But if you widen your perspective and include others in your area of concern, you’ll find you’re less worried, less stressed, and more connected to the life of your campus.

Offer Strong Leadership

Most of the students reading this are student leaders. So I invite you to do the thing that you’ve signed up for – I invite you to lead and to lead well.

If you can focus on being excellent in the first two areas above (manage your year and be others-focused) you will already have gone a long way in laying the foundation for your leadership. There will be some obstacles you and your team will face this year. This is why leadership is necessary. You were elected or selected to help your team solve problems and move the group forward. There will be people who need your inspiration and motivation. You will need to hold people accountable and encourage them to reach their potential. We don’t just need leadership, we need strong leadership.

Start strong, work hard in the middle and finish strong. It might be easy to simply pull back at some point and go through the motions. Is that how you want to be remembered? The legacy you leave behind is determined by the leadership you live right now.

Be Teachable

The beauty of being a “student leader” is the student part of it. You’re learning. That means you get to try some things and figure out your own unique style of leadership. You get to fail and discover that it won’t kill you (in fact, I hope you learn the most from those mistakes).

But learning from your leadership opportunity doesn’t happen unless you have that one special ingredient: teachability.

You don’t get to choose all the experiences you have, but you do get to choose what to do with them. I challenge you to make everyday an opportunity to learn. Move outside of your comfort zones and transform your experiences into new lessons. This will make each day an opportunity for lifelong growth.

I wish you all the best as you embark on your student leadership year. I’ve watched thousands of students walk through this process. Time and again the following is true:

Those who make the MOST out of their student leadership year will be the ones who get the MOST out of it.