Leaders are influential in a variety of ways, not the least of which is in their ability to influence a sphere of colleagues, friends, family members, and associates.  Social media has brought us the power of technology and global reach to replace the traditional 'rolodex' as a way of managing our influence potential.

How connected are you?  And, what is the breadth, scope, and depth of each connection you include in  your 'rolodex'?  How many connections do you have in your social media platform of choice (i.e., i-Meet, LinkedIn, Facebook)?

Connection: [kuh-nek-shuh n]: something that relates or connects; a relationship or association; an acquaintance, especially one who has influence or prestige; a communications link between two points.

In the last month, I've invested time each day to the task of building up my portfolio of LinkeIn connections and can now boast about being in the 500+ club.  In my journey to that level,  I noticed two things:

1) It became easier to adjust my definition of 'connection' as I got closer to the 500 mark.

2) I began to receive connection requests from folks that didn't share my definition of 'connection' and I had to make judgment calls on whether to accept their invitation or not.

I realized that the meaning of being in the 500+ Club is completely unique to each individual....and, my perception that it means 'power, influence, success, and prestige' cannot be applied across the universe. So, while the number may SUGGEST something, I have to rely on traditional methods of assessing leadership influence that extend beyond the new and flashy technology gadgets (instinct, personal interaction, reputation, thought leadership).   

Knowing how many connections I have (500+), you could draw any one or more of the following conclusions:

-          I've established a solid reputation and built a sound network of professional contacts that I can count on to clear calendar time to help me out if/when I reach out to them.
 -          My sphere of influence is significant in size, scope, and diversity.
 -          I know a lot of people
 -          A lot of people know me

AND/OR

-          I'll connect with anyone who can stroke the keys of a computer and request to connect
 -          As long as our last names share at least one vowel and one consonant in common, I'll connect with you
 -          If I read your name tag on a trade show floor............we're connected.

What is your criteria for 'connecting'?  Which of the above align with your strategy ?  

Hope to see you on the trails.......53/100.

Mike Malinchok, CPC 
 President 
   S2K Consulting, LLC  
www.s2kperformancecoaching.com
ph: 215-504-7091