Taking your leadership online is a great way to leverage this shift to grow your impact. Let’s explore seven ways to do this.
In 2020, the world shifted. Due to the global pandemic, more people are working from home than ever before. With this change, embracing an online strategy has become a necessity. Schools have adopted online learning. Church congregations are meeting online more than in person. Businesses are trying to figure out how to leverage the internet to grow their impact (and ROI). If you’re an industry leader, this provides you with a tremendous opportunity. With more people turning to the internet for everyday activities, there is room for you to lead. Taking your leadership online is a great way to leverage this shift to grow your impact. Let’s explore seven ways to do this.
Establish Your Home Base (Online Platform)
SOHO Learning Hub which is an online platform for short courses.
If you don’t have a strong home base, you are falling behind. When people Google your name, they need to find an online platform that you own. This is a place where you control the narrative and where people can find out more about what you do. It can be in the form of a blog or a website, but it should present you the way you want people to see you.
Sync Your Messaging
When someone finds you on any social media platform, the messaging needs to be consistent. If you are an industry-leading physician, that should be clear regardless of where I find you. Your bio on social media is one great place to do this. Synchronize your messaging on every platform where you have an online presence. This doesn’t mean that you have to try to be active on all platforms. But it does mean that wherever I find you, your messaging should be consistent.
Have a Clear Content Creation Strategy
On the internet, content is king. It’s how people find you online and how you nurture a relationship with your audience. Content also gives you the ability to share your knowledge and expertise with others. You can do this by having a consistent content creation strategy. You want people to know that they can count on you to show up with value at a predetermined frequency. When people come to know that they can depend on you for consistent, high-quality content, they will stick around.
Embrace Online Video
Social platforms are prioritizing video content because it drives engagement. It’s a great way to teach others, and industry leaders need to tap into this medium more. With options like live video, stories and even prerecorded content, the sky is the limit. Start a weekly live show where you share the latest industry news. Create educational videos to help your audience overcome industry challenges. Your potential audience is already consuming online videos, so shift some of that viewing time to your content. This will help to establish you as an industry leader online.
Upgrade Your Equipment
With so many people embracing content creation, it’s challenging to stand out. Zoom meetings are now standard in almost every industry. But the reality is that most people who show up to these meetings do so in a mediocre way. This provides a great opportunity for you to stand out. Invest in a nice HD webcam — or even better, a quality DSLR. Use a capture card like the Elgato Camlink to connect your camera to your computer. When you appear in your meetings and presentations, you will look like a pro.
Embrace the Performance
When you show up online, get into performance mode. So many people pause at the beginning of their videos. They say things like, “OK, I’m going to wait until people sign on.” Then they give a long, unnatural pause. When you show up online (especially on livestreams), embrace the performance. Dive in immediately, and provide value from the very beginning. Remember that most of the people who consume your live videos will watch after the fact. Plan out what you’re going to say, and do it well. When you are on camera, your enthusiasm gets toned down by the medium. Add some extra enthusiasm to your performance, and you’ll get your message across well.
Take a Stance
People follow leaders who aren’t afraid to stand up for what they believe in. The same is true online. In some ways, it’s often stronger online because of the potential to go viral. Don’t be afraid to take a stance. When you do, there will be people who love it. Of course, the opposite is true as well. But those who resonate with your message will gravitate toward you. When the leader shows up, the people follow.
Being a leader is challenging. And when you’re thinking about trying to stand out as a leader online, it can be overwhelming. But the reality is that it doesn’t have to be. Take action on some of these tips and you will be well on your way. It won’t happen overnight, but it will be worth it in the end.