Are You LinkedIn?

Part of doing business has always been building relationships. Ultimately a personal human relationship with contacts letters and computers couldn't provide. They still can't at all levels, but online video conferencing and social media outlets have helped.

Most people are now using LinkedIn as their professional Rolodex and Facebox as their personal Rolodex. Allowing the system to give them updates on what their contacts posted actions are. And if this isn't enough, Twitter helps bridge the time gap to give instant updates. The world wide web has now allowed us to reconnect or develop connections a few years ago took several phone calls, coffees...etc. to get what is now developed in matter of minutes.

However, when developing your connections are you truly connecting with people or developing your own spider web design? If so, what web design have you created and what can in provide for contacts? In LinkedIn have you made an effort to support your contacts through recommendations or introduction to synergistic contacts?

Over the next several years the tracking of introductions, recommendations and posted comment click throughs will give some great data on the top influencers and connectors. Plus, what they do and what jobs they succeed in. I bet Stanley Milgram would have loved to see it all in action.

The Leader Within

Yesterday I had the pleasure of listening to Charlene Bagley talk about her career at General Electric and some of life influences who have helped shape whom she has become. From being a young student encouraged by a teacher to taking the advise of a fellow students parents while in college. Something about a person could develop a great career at GE. (I bet her fellow student wish they would have listened! ) However, all this mixed with an internal drive of never stop learning from her surroundings truly has made Charlene a real success. Here are a few things to think about to enhance your leadership skills:

• Listen to people (learn to listen not hear)
• Ask questions and constantly try to learn about what is happening in the world around you
• Make decisions (know when to stopping gathering data)
• Don't be afraid to fail
• Look beyond your area and understand the overall company objectives
• In negotiations know how to give, you don't have to have everything your way
• Follow-up with people and keep connected
• Know your weaknesses and learn how to address them

You never know when you may be making a difference in those you touch, so always try to give them your full attention in that moment. We were lucky to have an hour of Charlene's busy day. She gave the group her undivided attention, when I'm sure her blackberry was on constant buzz. However, she was doing her part to help inspire and give back to the leader within each person in the room.