WHAT A PLATFORM WILL DO FOR YOUR LEADERSHIP

Leadership in its simplest definition is influence. Much more than that, is that it is the right application of influence. But I believe leadership is more than influence. It involves the pursuit of purpose as evidenced by vision and convictions.

If you have a message, a passion for change, one way I’ve found for you to go about it is to create a platform for yourself. We are in a noisy world, if your voice has to be heard, there has to be a platform.

A major problem of youthfulness as I have come to discover in this part of the world is the lack of a platform for expression.

[Tweet “A major problem of youthfulness as I have come to discover in this part of the world is the lack of a platform for expression.”]

My goal with this post is to help you discover how through the use new media tools, you can become what you want to be. That doesn’t mean there is no work involved, but following the template I’ll be sharing with you, you can build a platform for yourself that gets you noticed in a crowded world.

My friend Akpoveta Valentine (@iam_avt) had his first #APlusLife twitter conference yesterday June 12th, and I was on the faculty of facilitators. The third to share and my topic was PLATFORM.

Below is what I shared at the conference.

“All the world’s a stage. And all the men and women are players,” says Shakespeare.

If you have a message, a passion for change, one way I’ve found for you to go about it is to create a platform for yourself.

We are in a noisy world, if your voice has to be heard, there has to be a platform on which you stand.

I have been in the youth terrain a while now, a major problem of youthfulness among others I’ve found is the lack of platform of expression.

While many await someone to save their day, other smart guys are seizing the moment and creating their platforms.

In this session of the #APlusLife, my goal is to help you discover why and how you can create a platform for yourself.

Building a platform requires a lot of work, but following the template I’ll be sharing with you along with my personal story you will come to realize you can build a platform for yourself that gets you noticed in this crowded world.

So I’ll begin with my story here on the #APlusLife

I have always known people want to lead and be led. Getting to reach them and influence them is my and your quest as a leader.

On the 25th of May, 2009, I began publishing #LivingLetters (with just 25 copies) as an undergraduate back in FUTA, Akure.

After consistent monthly publishing for 2 years, I was only able to reach 500 people.

I discovered I could up my game. And new media methods, unlike traditional media, was a guaranteed route.

What did I do that that same #LivingLetters now reaches over 2000 young persons in over 8 states in Nigeria?

I started with a platform. I was inspired by God to form an organization that will run independently, from where my operations will proceed.

I started Young & Strong on the 4th of July 2010, and fully kicked off November 4th same year.

Meanwhile, there are 2 types of platform: Personal, and Corporate.

A personal platform carries a personal branding strategy which includes your name, personal identity etc. You find such with @olusolamusan

A corporate platform is one that has a blanket branding strategy which embodies a whole lot of other things. An example is @wearegemstone @careerwisenig

The next thing I did was to build a minimum viable audience. This is your tribe. The people you serve. More on tribe later

I said that because people follow people much more than they follow companies and organizations. A platform enables you to get on stage right in front of them.

It doesn’t matter what message, cause, or concept for change you have. Unless you consciously get platformed, you’re not going to reach your goals.

I started a Facebook page where I began to deliver great content, interacting with people, and I grew from there.

Then I decided my format of delivery. Back then written content was my major format. Recently, I’ve learnt and grown to accept audio and visual content.

I’m launching my Audacity2Lead podcast next week. Which means the times are already changing. Podcast, videos, eBooks etc. are formats available

Next is, I brought them all together on a platform. This is not social media like Facebook. It is what Michael Hyatt calls “your home base.”

You have to find ways of getting what you have to offer delivered to the audience you have built. This could be a blog, a site. Even BBM and Whatsapp can help

Lastly, Utilize Social Media. As much as I do not always recommend Facebook, Twitter or any other social media as a primary platform, I duly appreciate the fact that social media is a plus in getting your message out to a community of people.

What I did in my own case was to stop putting my major contents on Facebook. I post snippets on Facebook and add a link to my blog so that if you’re interested in reading the whole thing you come over and take that in.

Social media networks have provided a pre-platform for you. All you need to do is learn how to maximize them.

Twitter is the easiest way to leverage your influence because it is more like a leadership tool unlike Facebook which is more of a social tool.

I’ll round this up by letting you know that whatever platform you build is majorly because of your tribe.

The world needs your voice. There are many who will never know anything you know until you get in front of them and share with them.

[Tweet “The world needs your voice. There are many who will never know anything you know until you get in front of them and share with them.”]

What’s a tribe?

Simple: It is a small but dedicated group of fans who believe in your work so much that they are willing to tell everyone they know about it.

According to Seth Godin, “A tribe is a group of people connected to an idea, connected to a leader, and connected to each other”

As much as you build your platform, invest whatever it will take you to know how to build your tribe.  They are the ones who will promote your platform for you

I have written a book for you that can guide you if you want to start a blog. It’s available when you sign up.

Let me hear from you:

In what ways can you build a platform different from what I mentioned in my story? Share with me in the comment section below.

[Tweet “Audacity2Lead.com is launching with an 8 days twitter conference. #AUDACITY2LEAD”]

SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENT

Audacity2Lead.com is launching with an 8 days twitter conference. I will be hosting 13 top-ranked coaches, consultants, authors, speakers and trainers starting 6pm this Sunday June 15th to next Sunday June 22nd.

They include Sam Obafemi, Julius Osimen Jnr., Semako Jinadu, Olusola Amusan, Jenny Chisom, Earl Alright, Gbenga Awomodu, Ati Kenneth, Timidi Omolere Digha, Kayode Olusoji, Emeka Nobis, Grace Festus, and Teajay Chunu.

Each facilitator will be sharing on unique topics which I’ll make available on this blog for you.

I encourage you to join us on Twitter by following the hashtag #Audacity2Lead or more specifically, follow me @iamDayoSamuel to join the conference.

I’m sure your life, productivity and leadership will be supercharged at this conference. And you will find the necessary tips, steps and strategies to make that leap.

The #Audacity2Lead conference begins this Sunday June 15th by 6pm