10 Keys for Creating Value through Social Media

Social Media is here to stay. Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, Linkedin, Snapchat and many other outlets are some of the best ways to consume and create the most information in a timely manner that I've found. Everyone is on these outlets these days. It's helpful, quick, informative, and aggregated in a way that is valuable to me. If you are wondering who to follow, or wondering why I follow who I follow, here are several reasons why I follow some on Twitter and not others. 

These points are created primarily with Twitter in mind, but also easily translate to Facebook, Instagram, Google +, Linkedin, and most other social media outlets.

Ultimately, here are 10 Keys for Creating Value for others on Social Media: 

1. You give me value. Provide me great content, and also a great link, a quote, a stat, new website, etc.

2. You don't constantly pimp yourself. Remain humble. Make it about others.

3. You are generous. I see lots of retweets from you and notice you seem to care about others and are willing to talk about others and want to help them.

4. You make me think. A link to a timely article on theology, a great quote, a phrase that encourages or challenges, a Scripture verse, etc.

5. You make me laugh. I simply need some humor and you provide it.

6. You keep me informed. I want to be ahead of the crowd when it comes to news and pertinent info. Trends, future, and innovation also fit here. 

7. You tweet in moderation. No overtweeting. A nice steady stream of tweets.

8. You provide a personal connection, And because of that, I actually want to meet you in person. Whether as an individual or organization.

9. You have a picture. Without out, no follow. Your account looks fake. Get rid of the bland egg!!

10. You are a friend. I still follow many friends who are not necessarily the greatest at Twitter. But I still follow them. That's what friends are for!

Young Influencers List, May Edition

Here you go, the May edition of the Young Influencers List. You can see all the past month's lists here. 

1. Nate Parker - actor, filmmaker, and producer, and working on exciting new fall film The Birth of a Nation.

2. Jamie Ivey - Austin based blogger, mother, writer and founder of uber popular podcast Happy Hour with Jamie Ivey. 

3. Tyrann Mathieu - known as the honey badger, NFL defensive back for the Phoenix Cardinals. 

4. Chad Bruegman - teaching pastor of Red Rocks Church in Denver, CO. 

5. Daniel Sih - Australian based business entrepreneur co founder of Spacemakers and co creator of Email Ninja. 

6. Andrew Draper - digital content curator at 12 Stone Church in Atlanta, and visionary behind the Elsie Project. 

7. Jenn Johnson - Redding, CA based singer, songwriter and artist with Bethel Church and  Bethel Music. 

10 Tips for Conducting a Great Interview

Here are a few tips for conducting a great interview. 

1. Do your homework. You would be amazed how many people show up to do an interview and have no clue about who they are interviewing, and just try to wing it. It shows. Believe me.

2. Ask the question behind the question. Get under the surface. Dig deeper. Not to uncover gossip or something that is not relevant, but because someone has probably already asked the question you are thinking about asking. So ask a better one.

3. Be curious. Curiosity allows you to push into the unknown and follow the trail. Move towards the areas that both are interesting to you and the person across from you. 

4. Shutup. No one wants to hear your answer to the question, otherwise the tables would be turned. Your job is to pull great content out of the interviewee, not to give your opinion.

5. Create a conversation, not just a serve and volley. When appropriate, give the sense to your listeners that you are sitting in a living room having coffee and catching up. Creating conversation is different than just giving your opinion or an answer to your question. Conversations require context, which means you have to have 20 or 30 questions ready to go for an interview that would usually be around 10 questions.

6. Don't interrupt unless you need to, keep your hands off the table, and save your "ums" and "uh-huhs" and "oh-yeahs" for after you're done. For audio or video purposes, your agreeing by saying something just muddies the water. It seems like the thing to do in person- giving your interviewee verbal feedback, but just stick with non-verbal. Sounds better when you don't respond. And hitting or tapping the table is picked up by microphones- seems obvious, but everyone forgets.....

7. Listen. Seems obvious, but great interviewers actually listen to an answer being given, instead of preparing for the next question and not actually hearing what the person is saying. Listening creates great follow up questions. And creates trust with the interviewee.

8. Provide your questions beforehand. Send your questions to the person you are interviewing before the interview so they can prepare.

9. Study the best. Watch Charlie Rose, Bob Costas, Barbara Walters, Oprah, etc. Learn from their style.

10. Ask permission. On the front and back end. Make sure you always have permission to post something, and of course if someone doesn't want an answer included, make sure to delete it. Your job is to make sure you don't break their trust. 

Young Influencers List April Edition

Here you go, the April edition of the Young Influencers List. You can see all the past month's lists here. 

1. Tim Shirk- Washington DC managing director at Fox River Partners, and formerly private sector adviser to president of Malawi. 

2. Keri Fosse- co-founder of Lalabu, creating stylish and simple baby wear and accessories. 

3. Chris McClarney- Nashville based songwriter, artist and worship leader at Church of the City and quite often leading with Jesus Culture. 

4. Josh Turner- church planter and pastor of Celebration Church in Orlando. 

5. Lauren McAfee- NYC based director of Community Engagement for Museum of the Bible, opening November 2017 in Washington DC. 

6. Nishan Varatharajan- Sydney based entrepreneur and co-founder of social enterprise Bloodless and works with Foundation for Young Australians. 

7. Eugene Lee- San Mateo campus pastor of Menlo Park Presbyterian Church. 

Leaders- Let your Ego Leak

As leaders, one of our biggest struggles many times is our Ego.

Those of us who are Type A Leaders really struggle with Ego. With pride. Being boastful about our own accomplishments. Arrogance. Untouchable. Always talking about ourselves and making sure everything revolves around us. Can I get a witness???

No one sets out to be arrogant or to have a larger than life ego, but it just usually happens slowly over time, without us being aware.

And once everyone notices, many times its too late because we have so many things in place allowing our ego to flourish uncontrollably.

Reality is- The more influence you have, the more you are pulled away from reality and usually lack at this point having those around you who will keep you humble.

Here is a simple solution: LET YOUR EGO LEAK. 

Ego leak is the practice of ridding oneself of pride through the pipeline of praising others around you.

Practice purging pride by praising people. 

Ego Leak is a GOOD THING, when it's focused in the right direction.

Squelch your own ego by focusing ALL of your bragging, arrogance, pride and boasting on and around OTHERS. Talk constantly about your team, about your children, about your spouse, about your family, about your friends, and about your staff.

Brag on God, on Jesus, on the Church. On His goodness and grace.

Let your Ego leak freely on behalf of building others up.

If you are like most of us who consider ourselves to be leaders, your ego will leak out regardless, so you might as well put it to good use, bragging on those around you.