Lead first, Market Second

In order to become a great marketer, you have to become a great leader first; and no, to be a leader does not mean you have to be a CEO, manager, or anything of higher power.  To be a leader is simply a combination of a few key characteristics that can be shared by anyone in the workforce:

1. Model the way
2. Inspire a Shared Vision
3. Encourage the Heart

 “Leadership is mostly the model you provide your peers in how you behave.” This act in itself is one of the most essential steps to leadership.  You will earn respect from your peers not by telling them what to do, but showing them.  The known saying, “actions speak louder than words” is a primary example of this concept. A good way to effectively model the behavior expected is to clarify your values.  You must determine what is important and why, and make sure your actions comply with these standards. People follow first the person, then the plan.

Leaders inspire a shared vision to the rest of the community.  They are able to look into the future and have a vision on where they want their company to be.  The tricky thing is, one cannot get the whole company there by themself.  You need the help of the whole community/workforce to get to that end goal.  This is where inspire a shared vision comes into play.  “Inspiring others to envision their success and giving them an image of what that would look like injects drive and determination into those around you.”

The road to achieving a goal can be long and strenuous. Many people have the desire to slow down or even give up.  As a leader, it is crucial to remind everyone involved why they started to begin with.  Encouraging the heart can often be tough, but it is necessary for many people to stay positive and keep moving forward in the workforce.  It can be an act as little as giving a positive reinforcement after a job well done, or even a pat on the back. “Nothing great ever gets done without heart. You gotta have heart.”  It is these actions that will keep your peers whole hearts in it until the end. 

Kouzes, James M., and Barry Posner Z. The Five Practices of Exemplary Leadership.
 San Francisco: Pfeiffer, 2003. Print.

-Jenna Croteau, Chikmedia Intern