Election Day Truths...

Today, leaders all over the world, people in offices, families at home, are talking about the election. More importantly, they are talking about what they believe is the best candidate, WHY he is the best candidate, and sharing examples of what they have or have not done. Others are angry – yelling in person, yelling on social media, yelling about WHY their candidate is better. Some of us are really personally affected by the policies of the President, some less affected, some don’t even know how they are affected…Here is the thing I have learned over the past 13 years – Personal Brands are built in times of strife, struggle and trial. This is a time in our nation where true leaders are needed, wanted, and necessary.

John Maxwell says leadership is influence. Period. What does that mean? If you want ‘influence,’ you must take the time to build your own brand. WHY should people listen to you? What experience have you had? Do you REALLY care about others? Have you taken the time to get to know their personal stories and struggles – what does that mean to you? How do you help? Leaders who truly influence build their own brand equity first, and then they build others.

The second thing they do is listen. I mean, REALLY listen. True leaders really understand WHY someone thinks the way they do – why do they think differently? Have a different opinion? How could someone’s beliefs be SO different than their own? They care about they ‘why,’ because they know that the ‘why’ can be deep rooted, and they look to discover how the roots began and how they went so deep. They also know that without knowing WHY, yelling and shouting their truth won’t work. Grace, truth, and understanding doesn’t mean you have to agree, it means you are able to see the ‘why,’ so that when the time is right you can discuss it.

If you don’t like the outcome of this election, or even if you do, here are my brand tips for you.

1. Ask yourself, SHOULD people listen? Have you share your stories well enough, in a grace driven way, that people have an idea of your heart?
2. Do you make it easy for people to talk with you? If not, how will you ever influence them? I see people on Facebook with the picture stating – You can vote your way, I vote mine, and we can still be friends because we are adults. OK! Then I see other say, You can vote your way, and I vote mine, but if you vote for a Beep Beep Beep, that means I simply cannot be your friend. (Clearly, I’m paraphrasing, you know what I mean). If you truly want change, influence, then you must have grace and truth. You must give people the opportunity to KNOW YOU, and then know they are safe to ask you questions.
3. Anger. There are moments of righteous anger. Lord knows I’ve been angry for the right reasons. Anger is a funny thing in that when you show it on social media in particular, you must understand that the ‘whole’ picture of you isn’t necessarily painted and people may only see that one moment. You need to share the WHOLE story of yourself in snippets to build equity.
4. Do something. I said recently in a post on someone else’s page that we cannot do EVERYTHING. Choose one thing that you feel led to do – dive in, go deep and give your time there. I can’t fix anything alone, but I have chosen to focus on racial sentencing disparity. It’s my thing, something I have seen first-hand, something I have seen in federal prisons, and my heart was influenced by men I met who were serving time…that is my thing. That is my one piece of the pie. What is yours? I’m asking because I know you were created by God for a purpose – there is a reason for your life – what is it? If you are angry, serve – always lowers my anger. If you are angry, act – but before you think anyone should listen – you need to build equity – why should people follow you or listen?
5. Review your social media – comments and posts on and off of your own page. If you are always angry, and not trying to see why others disagree, then you are to blame as well. I don’t have to agree with your position and you don’t have to agree with mine, but if I can be discerning of WHY you feel the way you do – I can more quickly find a way to your heart and common ground and good discussion…and that is where true leaders are born.

Just my two cents.