10 Ways to Elevate your Leadership Level

It's middle of the year, and as such, here are 10 reminders and ways to raising your leadership level. Hopefully these motivate you as well as inspire and challenge your team.  

I would recommend talking through each of these with your team, and challenging your team to live these out with intentionality over the next few months. 

1. Lead with Authenticity. Be Real. Human. approachable. Guard against hubris.

2. No sideways energy. Communicate. Focus. Guard against silos and wasted energy.

3. Stewardship. Each of us embracing and understanding our role in what we've been given and required to manage and uphold through the current platform we have.. Not just the leader, or the person in charge. 

4. Expertise. See myself as an expert, both in Individual responsibility and organizational responsibility.

5. Receive what we create. Become our own customer. Be passionate about allowing what you do to actually be something that you appreciate being the customer of. Guard against the mundane.

6. Guard against cynicism. Behind the curtain we have to guard against this. Fight it at every turn. And call it out if we see it.

7. Excellence. We are the best in the world. Confidence not arrogance. Act like it. Maintain a standard. Guard against being lazy and pessimistic.

8. Serve one another. Jump in and help. Get it done mentality. Not just at events or special occasions. All the time. Be willing to do whatever it takes.

9. Protect and maintain a "make it happen" culture. Guard against the phrase "it's not my job." and guard against creating clicks.

10. Get better every day. Guard against complacency. Keep learning and leaning into constant and continuous improvement. 

Young Influencers List, June Edition

Here you go, another edition of the Young Influencers List. The sizzling hot June edition! You can see all the past month's lists here. 

1. Kirsten Dickerson - founder and CEO of Austin based ethical fashion and social business Raven + Lily. 

2. CJ Alvarado - Sacramento based brand strategist, creative thinker and CEO of Bamboo Creative. 

3. Kristen Ivy - Atlanta based writer, story enthusiast, and Executive Director of Messaging for Orange. 

4. Eric Johnson - author, speaker, creative and senior pastor of Bethel Church in Redding, CA

5. Taro Arai- executive head chef of Mikuni, a Japanese Restaurant and Sushi bar in Sacramento, one of best sushi places on the west coast (**exceeds the age average but wanted to include!!) 

6. Alice Rhee - Emmy award winning journalist, TV producer, advisor for Tribeca Film Institute, and director of media for the HE Butt Foundation out of Texas. 

7. Rohan Dredge - Melbourne Australia based leadership coach, podcaster, blogger and senior pastor of Discovery Church. 

7 Thoughts on Taking a Risk Now

Stepping out. Risking. Taking a chance. It's what we do as leaders. So why risk? Why do we as leaders step out and move into places of the "unknown" when we are in a comfortable niche and established as the dominant force?

Why change if things are going great for you? Why shift when you're in a place of comfort, convenience and familiarity? 

Great question. So why do we risk and take courage as leaders? Had to think about my answer. Six things stood out to me on the whole issue of taking a risk:

1. Entrepreneurs and Type A Leaders are never satisfied with the status quo and the "comfortable" niche. They can't stand to sit still. Their DNA won't allow it. They must create change. 

2. Stewardship- because what you are running or leading is temporary, and your responsibility is to steward it correctly because others are counting on you. If this requires changing or risking, then you need to step out and continue to push the envelope with what God has given you.

3. Adventure and the power of the pioneer- many of us are wired to be pioneers. To go on an adventure. Pure and simple. The journey into the unknown actually beckons us. The mountaintop draws us. 

4. Due diligence suggests it's actually time to move- do your homework, research, talk to people, and take very seriously the idea that you are risking. It's dumb to step out and change/take a risk if you haven't properly prepared and surveyed the landscape. But once you've done your homework and prepared, then go for it. Many people stifle the actual desire to step out because they spent too much time on due diligence. Risking and stepping out can be calculated, planned and strategic.

5. The power of purpose and calling- it God has called you to something in a new season, then you have to be willing to chase after it. Because of the internal pull of God's call. It's a responsibility and an imperative.

6. Leaders are out in front- Being at the head of the pack means you many times end up in the unknown. Where there's no handbook, no guide, no roadmap. But being out in front is where leaders are comfortable, and out front is where leaders separate themselves from the rest.

7. Your response to risk opens up a spot- A willingness to step out allows other on your team to step up. A seat is opened up for someone else to step in and build a legacy of leadership. 

10 Keys for Creating Value through Social Media

Social Media is here to stay. Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, Linkedin, Snapchat and many other outlets are some of the best ways to consume and create the most information in a timely manner that I've found. Everyone is on these outlets these days. It's helpful, quick, informative, and aggregated in a way that is valuable to me. If you are wondering who to follow, or wondering why I follow who I follow, here are several reasons why I follow some on Twitter and not others. 

These points are created primarily with Twitter in mind, but also easily translate to Facebook, Instagram, Google +, Linkedin, and most other social media outlets.

Ultimately, here are 10 Keys for Creating Value for others on Social Media: 

1. You give me value. Provide me great content, and also a great link, a quote, a stat, new website, etc.

2. You don't constantly pimp yourself. Remain humble. Make it about others.

3. You are generous. I see lots of retweets from you and notice you seem to care about others and are willing to talk about others and want to help them.

4. You make me think. A link to a timely article on theology, a great quote, a phrase that encourages or challenges, a Scripture verse, etc.

5. You make me laugh. I simply need some humor and you provide it.

6. You keep me informed. I want to be ahead of the crowd when it comes to news and pertinent info. Trends, future, and innovation also fit here. 

7. You tweet in moderation. No overtweeting. A nice steady stream of tweets.

8. You provide a personal connection, And because of that, I actually want to meet you in person. Whether as an individual or organization.

9. You have a picture. Without out, no follow. Your account looks fake. Get rid of the bland egg!!

10. You are a friend. I still follow many friends who are not necessarily the greatest at Twitter. But I still follow them. That's what friends are for!

Young Influencers List, May Edition

Here you go, the May edition of the Young Influencers List. You can see all the past month's lists here. 

1. Nate Parker - actor, filmmaker, and producer, and working on exciting new fall film The Birth of a Nation.

2. Jamie Ivey - Austin based blogger, mother, writer and founder of uber popular podcast Happy Hour with Jamie Ivey. 

3. Tyrann Mathieu - known as the honey badger, NFL defensive back for the Phoenix Cardinals. 

4. Chad Bruegman - teaching pastor of Red Rocks Church in Denver, CO. 

5. Daniel Sih - Australian based business entrepreneur co founder of Spacemakers and co creator of Email Ninja. 

6. Andrew Draper - digital content curator at 12 Stone Church in Atlanta, and visionary behind the Elsie Project. 

7. Jenn Johnson - Redding, CA based singer, songwriter and artist with Bethel Church and  Bethel Music.