studentlinc

Why Do I Tweet?

Kirsten Olsen asked me: Why do you tweet? Why should I? How do you manage it?

That's a great question that I get asked A LOT. Once people who don't use twitter find out that I do use it...and I use it often...they start asking questions. So I thought I'd post my response to Kirsten here on studentlinc.

10 Reasons Why I Tweet...

1. I tweet because it's the next evolution of social media and communication through emerging technology. Since I tend to be an early adopter in both of those areas I dive in with both feet.

2. I tweet because it gives me access to people and information that I wouldn't normally have access to through other channels of communication.

3. I tweet because it's a great place to get questions answered and research information in REAL TIME.

4. I tweet because it is another way to increase my influence in the world (read this great article by Michael Hyatt - http://michaelhyatt.com/2009/07/twitter-as-a-leadership-tool.html).

5. I tweet because it helps me stay in contact with people.

6. I tweet because it exposes me to a lot of various thoughts and ideas I might not know about otherwise.

7. I tweet because it adds a whole new level of interaction around big events that I'm actually experiencing or experiencing through Twitter.

8. I tweet because it is another unique way to let people know what I'm doing, what I'm interested in, and what has my attention (thanks Michael Hyatt for that last one).

9. I tweet because there are a lot of interesting people tweeting and I don't want to miss out.

10. I tweet because the only way you understand, learn, get better at, develop your voice, and immerse yourself in Twitter is to actually TWEET!

I also added the following in case your curious about how I include Twitter into my workflow:

Right now I use Seesmic Desktop as my main Twitter app on my work PC and my personal MAC. On my iPhone I use a combination of TweetDeck, Tweetie, and iTwitter. I use columns and create groups of people that I want to listen to specifically. I also have a couple of search terms that I always have open in a column to listen to what people are talking about.

I designed the background on my twitter homepage and created a special landing page on my studentlinc site for people to visit that follow my link from my twitter homepage (http://studentlinc.typepad.com/studentlinc/timage_twitter.html). I also include my twitter name in my email signature.

If someone asked you why or how you use Twitter, what would you say?

What's Next?

If you're anything like me, I can sometimes get into a productivity rut.

I know what needs to get done, but I don't seem to get anywhere when I start to try to do it. I find that I start to do all of the things that are urgent and don't spend the necessary time on the things that are important (until they become urgent). This is not a happy place (like Disneyland...but even then there's all those lines).

But there's one word that has helped me zero in on what needs to get done and helps me move forward in a positive direction...

Next

Think about it. We can write down all of the things that we need to do, but we never answer the question: What do I need to do NEXT?

Sometimes I'll look at a project that I'm involved in and I'll suddenly feel overwhelmed. There's so much to it. But it helps (a lot) if I can take the project and begin to ask myself: What is the very NEXT thing I need to do with this project? This is different than asking what I need to do to get the project DONE. That's where so many of us get stuck. We view things in the light of completion. Sometimes it takes a LOT of time and a LOT of energy to get an entire project done. But it won't take as much if we only consider what needs to happen NEXT.

And slowly (or more quickly than you realize) each NEXT step adds up and you find that your project is moving closer and closer to DONE.

This may not be anything new to some of you and it certainly isn't my own idea. But it is something that those of us who have deadlines, projects, and assignments must be reminded of. When I begin to feel overwhelmed by the workload, I step back for a minute and do one thing:

I tell myself to spend five minutes on the NEXT thing I have to do.

This starts to create the momentum I need to move forward and I have increased energy and I start to move back into productive mode.

Students are in unique rhythm of life. They get natural breaks throughout their academic year. Right now we're in the biggest of them all: summer. As a result of all the sun and fun you might be experiencing it might be a little difficult to get back into the mode of knocking out your assignments and responsibilities.

Here's my learning tip for you: Take out a sheet of paper and create a list. But don't make it a TO DO list. Instead, make it a TO NEXT list. List out the very next thing you need to do once you put the pen down and step away from the table.

For me, the very next thing I need to do right now is hit "Publish" on this post...

Flickr Photo Credit: mikemendel

Grabbing "studentlinc" For Twitter

 

It Starts With You And What You Do

Stacy stood at the front of the room and raised her voice above the crowd of students gathered there.

"May I have your attention please!"

The dull roar of the crowd started to subside but then quickly swelled back to it's original levels.

"Excuse me! I need everyone's attention!!"

Nobody was listening. No one was paying attention. Stacy was getting frustrated.

Have you ever been in this type of situation? You are the leader (whether by name or by position or by your own choice) and you have to get the group moving in a certain direction. The only problem is that people aren't listening to you. You aren't influencing anyone.

One of the core leadership characteristics I encourage student leaders to develop is their ability to influence others. Your influence will be the fuel and motivation behind your leadership. If you have it, people will begin to trust you and then they'll begin to follow you. If you don't have it, you'll soon find yourself standing in front of a room full of people with no one listening to you even though you're shouting at them.

One of the first things I tell student leaders about gaining and growing influence amongst their peers is that they have to make the first move. They must find a way to do something for someone else before they ask them to do something for them. I tell students that they must do the hard work of building a bridge with someone before they can ever ask that person to cross it with them.

It starts with you (the leader) and what you do (the way you add value to someone else).

Before you rush to the front of the room because you are the one in the student leadership position, take some time to earn the trust and gain the influence of those whom you wish to lead. You can do this by:

• Serving someone.
• Encouraging someone.
• Listening to someone.
• Helping someone.
• Affirming someone.
• Empowering someone.
• Giving to someone.
• Making a sacrifice for someone.

Do you see the common thread that runs through each of those tasks in the list? They all focus on meeting the needs of someone else before you seek to accomplish anything through someone else.

So step away from the microphone for a moment. Move back from the front of the room and start in the back of the room by approaching different people and simply asking: How may I help you?

Your Best Communication Tool

I know of a lot of student leaders who don't feel like they're good public speakers.

They begin to feel that if they can't deliver a message in front of a group of people they're not good communicators.

I invite you to take that and file it away under communication MYTHS.

I believe that a leader's best communication tool is the ability to listen.

That's right...can you hear me now? Listening will be the thing that defines your leadership communication.

If there's a problem in your organization - you're first move should be to listen.
If there's a difficulty between you and someone else - you should take the time to listen.
If you don't know what your next step should be - take a listening tour amongst those whom you serve.

For some, this may be one of the most freeing ideas you've thought about in awhile. It isn't so much that you have to always say the right thing. It's more about letting the people whom you serve know that you HEAR them, that you've taken the time to LISTEN to them. You got your ears on and they know it.

Think about it: Who do you like to be around? The person who talks all the time or the person who takes the time to listen to you?

Now I'm all for a person learning to hone their communication skills. Learn to speak better, learn to write better. Learn to craft a compelling message.

But don't forget (which often happens) to take the time to work at (and it DOES take work) your listening skills.

One of the best compliments a person can give you at the end of your student leadership year is that you were the one who takes the time to listen.