I have written many times during the past 18 months about how it was my loyal participation in #Blogchat on Twitter, and the encouragement of the #Blogchat Community, that gave me the knowledge and confidence needed to launch my own blog. So when I say that co-hosting #Blogchat this past Sunday night with Mack Collier was a sincere honor and tremendous pleasure, you should know how deeply I mean this!
Mack was kind enough to invite me to co-host with him and officially launch my new eBook with a Community that feels like it’s made of real friends. We chose the topic, “How Introverts Can Use Blogging to Boost Their Career” because of it’s interest to the #Blogchat community and because I have a full section on this in my eBook, “The Introvert’s Guide to Success in Business and Leadership.”
The speed of the chat was simply surreal (it flew by faster than LeadershipChat ever has!) and the conversation far-ranging. We went from a general overview of what it means to be an introvert (and how we’re different from our extroverted colleagues) to how to get a job, how to get promoted once you have a job, and how to use blogging as a leader and when you’ve reached the C-Suite.
Given the speed and breadth of the chat I wanted to share with you the tweets that I sent out Sunday night. They will serve as a bit of a primer on blogging for introverts!
A General Overview of Introversion:
It’s critically import that people understand key dif b/t being introverted & extroverted is where you get ur energy
Introverts get their energy frm “inner world” of ideas & images/extroverts frm “outer world” of ppl & activities
This is why –generally speaking- extroverts are more comfortable in the “outer world” of biz & leadership
Being introverted is NOT the same thing as being shy! However, introverts do prefer 2B alone or in small grps
It’s also extremely important for introverts to have time alone to recharge & bring best self to roles
Some of introverts’ inner strengths: Ideas, images, vision, listening, building close & trusting relationships
On Blogging for Introverts
Introverts also like to reflect on ideas, which is 1 key reason writing/blogging is ideal for introverts.
Think of all the ways you can capitalize on your inner strength – your brilliant ideas- to boost career!
Think of blog as gr8 way to put spotlight on ur brilliant ideas frm the comfort of home/office
This spotlight is critical b/c getting visibility for ur ideas w/in company is key 4 introverts who want 2B promoted
Getting spotlight on ur ideas also critical 4 introverts who are looking for a job. U get competitive edge w/recruiters
When you write about ideas that are important in your business/industry, you boost your credibility as well
For introverts key is to ensure that each post truly represents your ideas to best of your ability
How to Use Your Blog to Get a Job
When looking 4 a job, having a blog helps recruiter get better understanding of ur depth of expertise & experience
The more recruiter knows about you compared to other candidates, better your chance 2B brought in 4 interview
I have section on my resume called “My Executive Insights” w/links to leadership & mktg posts I highlight
Once I added blog links to resume, when talked w/potential clients they had already read my blog!
I discovered that once my clients were on my blog, they browsed categories and loved the personal posts
I think clients love personal posts because they get a feel for who you are as a person before deciding to meet
Once you get that interview, make sure you do awesome job of communicating brilliant ideas, introverts!
Remember when looking 4 job networking is vital! Having blog helps u meet ppl online, makes IRL meetings easier
How to Use Your Blog to Get Promoted
For introverts who want 2B promoted, it’s critical 2B visible in org, make ur ideas visible, & ask 4 job you want
Blog helps you make your ideas visible and can also demonstrate your readiness for gr8er responsibility.
Caveat: every org is different! I would have open discussion w/boss about blog & agree on level of openness they R comfort with.
Use blog 2 demonstrate knowledge of industry trends & analyze implications. Adds 2 credibility & promotability
IDEA: See if you can interview company execs 4 your blog. Gr8 for you, gr8 for company & gr8 1-on-1 networking!
IDEA: Ask execs/colleagues for topic requests. Then write about them & send links. Builds relationships->trust.
Offer to blog about company events as appropriate. This can be gr8 for the company and your visibility
Visibility for you/your ideas will build over time & you’ll find yourself on top mgt’s radar screen
Think of blogging as a great way to “stand out in a crowd” – but *comfortably* for introverts!
Leveraging Your Blog When You’re in Top Management
When you’re in top mgt, if you blog about leadership principles & values you’ll see them play out in ur team
The more ur team can connect w/who you are as a leader via blog, the more effective you’ll be over time
IMPORTANT: Remember, your team will watch to see that what you write about is what they see in action!
CEOs and Blogging
I work with a few CEOs who are starting to blog, but just internally at this point.
CEOs who are blogging say their employees absolutely love it and have told them look fwd to posts
For a CEO, blog gives employees a bit of a window into their everyday life & where they’re spending time
Blog also allows CEOs to communicate vision, mission, strategies to employees consistently over time
CEOs can use blog 2 help employees see how what they’re doing translates 2 lgr picture by spotlighting teams, etc…
Hat Tip to @SarahMae for Inspiring Me
A sincere thank you to @sarahmae who inspired me 2 write an eBook when she co-hosted #blogchat last spring! HER eBook: http://amzn.to/w1omcp
If you want to learn how to market and sell an eBook, I highly recommend you buy @sarahmae ‘s eBook on this very topic!
Thank you for the opportunity to Co-Host with you, Mack. It meant the world to me!
“The Introvert’s Guide to Success in Business and Leadership” eBook is NOW Available!
BUY NOW on Amazon for Kindle or click here to DOWNLOAD NOW in PDF format! Thank you!
Photo is typing by breahn.
10 Insightful Social Media Quotes from Smart CEOs
At these CEO Connection meetings they have a chance to truly reflect on – and be open and honest about – challenges they’re facing and mistakes they’ve made. And they share experiences and insights that enable them to leave with renewed, energized vision and strategies.
At our most recent event in New York City last week we spent a good deal of time discussing social media. I thought you might find some of these CEO comments about social media to be both insightful and perhaps surprising.
To give you a general background, these quotes are from smart, experienced CEOs who represent a variety of companies across industries that boast average revenues of $1.6 billion. Roughly 40% of those in the room were women:
1. “Everyone in my company thinks they’re a social media maven.” (B2C Company)
2. “My biggest concern with participating in social media is that we’ll somehow provoke a crisis.” (B2C Company with overwhelming majority agreeing)
3. “Connecting and creating relationships with customers is nice, but how does that translate to reach?” (Manufacturing company)
4. “We’re definitely increasing our social media budget more than any other media category.” (General agreement)
5. “I recently started tweeting and my employees love it; they can’t get enough of it. I tweet about the meetings I’m in and general observations, which seems basic, but they better understand what I do.” (B2C Technology company)
6. “By not tweeting you’re tweeting. You’re sending a message.” (Business services company)
7. “We’re not in control of the conversation, so we need to monitor it and adjust our strategy accordingly.” (B2B Company)
8. “I recently started blogging and every time I meet with employees they implore me not to stop. They really love it.” (B2B Company)
9. “Our employees’ wives love our facebook page and are our most active group on it. They’re our advocates.” (Mining Company)
10. “We advise our employees that when they’re using social media they should use social grace – and we trust them to do so.” (B2B Company)
What resonates with you most about these quotes? Do they surprise you at all? Encourage you in any way? Let’s talk in the comments!
Need help defining a business vision, purpose and mission and the strategies to support them? Hire me for Visionary Leadership programs, and work with me by emailing me at Lisa@CLevelStrategies.com.
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Photo is businessmen in meeting by allensima.