Collaborative Direction

Leadership is about finding ways to accomplish goals through collaboration. This requires people who may have different levels of knowledge, expertise, background, interest, and perspective. This tapestry makes teamwork interesting and robust. But we can often get tripped up if we only look at things through our own lens.

Derek Sivers reminds us the opposite of our viewpoint can be just as valid an idea.


Kneale Mann

TED | Derek Sivers

Leadership and the Lone Nut

We spend a lot of time here talking about the importance of leadership. No one wants a boss, however most appreciate fair and strong leaders. But what does it take to be that first follower to join the lone guy dancing on a hill to make things happen?

We are often afraid to take chances which creates atrophied ideas. There is great admiration for those whose stand out and lead the charge but we often do so from afar. We need to join the idea when it may not be ours. It takes guts to be the first one to speak up but teamwork is requisite.

The next time you have a big idea, don’t be afraid to share it and be equally brave to know it takes others for it to become a reality. When were are inclusive to others and trust them with our ideas, magic can happen.

If you haven’t this, watch as Derek Sivers explains how a movement can be created in less than three minutes. 


Kneale Mann

youtube | derek sivers

Community: What's In It For Them?

When speaking with people about their business, I’m often struck by how often the existence of an omnipresent group is brought up. The marketing is this, the suppliers are that, they don’t follow, they don’t buy. We do good work and we want others to notice and appreciate it. We want return on our investment.

Will You Change?

But we are looking at the situation strictly from our perspective. We want others to change and shift to fit our model. I have prospects, clients, event participants often ask “will it work?” They don’t like the answer “it all depends” because they want a guarantee or a quick win. It’s not what you can do, it’s what you will do. I can’t do that part for you.

We have been on this earth for hundreds of thousands of years and despite some claims, there are no guarantees. There are too many moving parts and the most important part is us. My treadmill will not get me into shape by collecting dust in my basement. New clients will not find me by osmosis without my effort. And Twitter will not create a community on its own. It takes hard work, a concentrated effort and focus.

Lead the Followers

Derek Sivers is a fascinating guy who is a musician by heart who has developed a growing independent music community called CD Baby by accident.

We often think that we need to stand out in front when we lead, Derek offers another angle to consider. After you watch this three minute video, you may get a whole new perspective about how you nurture relationships. [video]


Kneale Mann

visual credit: TED