Networking? It is leadership. Some of the best connected network creators I know have never been managers, but they all have been leaders. Here is how I learned the most critical lesson in leadership.
I was 19 years old and clueless. I was sitting in a chair and told my roommate, “We’ve got to get going.”
He just sat in his chair and looked at me.
“Come on, get up. We’ve got to get that done now,” I said from my chair.
He stared at me a little more wide eyed and offended.
“Look. You have to get up. We agreed I’d lead this project.”
“Bryan,” he finally said, “there is no way I am getting up out of my seat before you do. If you are going to be the leader, you’ve got to get up first and start acting like you really mean what you say.”
That was one of the best lessons in leadership I ever had.
Leaders show by what they do that they mean what they say. They invest themselves in a decision before they expect others to follow.
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Something To Do Today
Take the lead or watch a leader take charge of a group.
Starting tomorrow I will be giving at least one suggestion each day for networking.
For a few days: How to network at the top.
Creating networks