To Be an Excellent Leader, Do More Following

In the online world, one way to gain a following is to follow other people. The way this works is simple: you go to a Twitter user whom you admire and start following people who follow them. Then a magical thing happens: some of them start following you back. Not only that: people who follow those people will notice that you followed, and they’ll start following you. All of a sudden you have the ears (or screens) of people who you never would have met otherwise. As Seth Godin would say, you’ve begun to build a tribe. You’re leading, by following.

This isn’t so different from real life.

In the real world you gain someone’s confidence by being genuinely interested in them. By opening yourself up to them, you make it safe for them to open up to you.

In Tribes, Seth Godin said “Leadership is the art of giving people a platform for spreading ideas that work.” When you follow someone — when you listen to what they’re saying, you become that platform.

When was the last time you really listened? Most people, when listening to someone else talk, are busy thinking about what they’re going to say next. Not listening. Don’t be like that. Attention is one of the greatest compliments you can pay someone. And it will be repaid, guaranteed. The next time you’re in a conversation with a coworker, make an effort to listen — really listen — to what she is saying. You might be surprised what happens next.

Maybe you’ll help her to accomplish something that’s important to her. Or maybe you can connect her with someone who can. Or maybe listening to her, and following what she’s doing, is that small thing that gives her that little push that she needs.

You might say this motive is selfish. But we’re all in this together, this thing called life. You can bite and claw your way to the top; that’s the way a lot of people see success. Or you can reach out a hand, and get to the top together.