Lisa Barone at Outspoken Media asks: Why are you scared to be outspoken?
It’s an honest question I hear a lot from social media practitioners. We see and experience so many great things everyday we feel bad for people that don’t actively participate and frustrated when clients don’t jump in with both feet.
But much like we need to stop hating late adopters and stop worrying about critics, we also need to understand and accept our own fear.
We are social animals. We have evolved as a society because of our cohesion and our need to be accepted. In ancient societies the worst thing you could do to someone was to exile them. Cast them out of the tribe. It’s in our DNA not to stand out.
The one that stands out has to face the lions; either as the leader or as lunch.
That’s a big bet to make. But a legitimate one to ask. Do you or your company want to be a leader or lunch?
We are hard wired to not stand out. That fear has kept our race alive. But now it get’s in the way of people being involved. Your fear or the collective fear of your company is stopping you from being a leader.
Here’s what I can promise you if you’re willing to be a leader:
- You will stand out.
- People will criticize you.
- Some people will hate you.
- You will become a target.
But:
- You will stand out.
- More people will praise you.
- More people will love you.
- You will become someone worth following.
Leaders don’t become lunch. Being a follower makes you more likely to be lunch. We need more leaders.
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Photo credit By tommy.lan
Photo credit By pixelediting
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