Leading with Twitter
I ran across this article the other day Twitter as a Leadership Tool….and while reading it…thought…WOW! So true! Then the idea’s started running through my head.
Most people are not understanding what Twitter actually does. They look at Twitter as just another “something to do” stating they have enough to do already. I’ve experienced that numerous times. I had an IT guy tell me the same thing…”Twitter, is just another thing to do….and keep up with.” What they are missing is this:
Twitter is an opportunity to give to others and make an impact, leading in a way that wasn’t possible till now.
Leading is influence, which really is not anything else but teaching. Twitter provides that vehicle in an extended way. So what is Leadership? Looking up Leadership…I ran across a lot of definitions…most of them relating to influence.
Leadership has been described as the “process of social influence in which one person can enlist the aid and support of others in the accomplishment of a common task”.[1]
The Art & Science of Leadership
Dictionary.com–verb (used with object)
- to go before or with to show the way; conduct or escort: to lead a group on a cross-country hike.
- to influence or induce; cause: Subsequent events led him to reconsider his position.
- to guide in direction, course, action, opinion, etc.; bring: You can lead her around to your point of view if you are persistent.
Influencing people also means communicating with them. Twitter can be a mega phone to communicate with large groups at once, like texting one text message to however many followers you have. Imagine that…only one tweet can reach thousands at once - simultaneously.
Twitter is another tool for leaders, enabling Leaders to step out further in ways never thought of before. See additional comment from leaders on Leadership and Tweeting.
Want more info on Leadership? Visit Minding the Gaps by Thomas J. Lee. His comment about Twitter and Leadership?
Leadership is indeed about more than position, status, or title. But it has to be about more than influence, too. Influence alone presupposes that leaders have all the answers. So leadership has to reach for real inspiration, for the excited and collaborative involvement of followers. Twitter can help on this, too, by both implicitly and explicitly encouraging people to be more of what they can be.
What is your focus for tweeting?
