Nonprofit Performance 360 Magazine Vol 5 No 1

HUGH BALLOU Strategy

Social Media is Social Building Relationships Online

My model for Transformational Leadership involves four pillars: Foundations, Relationships, Systems, and Balance. My second principle is Relationships because relationships are key to leadership. They are also key to effective ministry in religious organizations. Results are based on relationships. In addition, communication and financial success are dependent on quality relationships. If you have a spouse or significant life-mate, then think about the process of connecting and building a trusted relationship with that person. We don’t typically cement that long- term relationship in our first conversation. However, many people I encounter do the equivalent of asking for marriage in the first business conversation and, even at the begin- ning of that conversation or event, approach the conversation with a call-to-action before building a relationship. Leadership has a foundation in relationship. Ministry has a foundation in relationship. Meaningful communication has a foundation in relationship. Financial results are based on trusted relationships. It’s all based on creat- ing and maintaining effective relationships. Transformational leaders always work on re- lationship. The pathway to funding, in its simplest form, requires relationships. • Mental capital to • Relationship capital to • Financial capital Leaders lead from a strategic framework as a roadmap to success.At SynerVision Leadership

Specialize – Be the best at one thing rather than attempting to be the master of everything. I’m doubtful of people who have lots of different types of expertise, so I’m careful to limit what I say that I can do. Persevere – Don’t start out strong and then quit.It takes time and continuous effort to build a tribe and cultivate a following. Remember, you are building relationships and it takes time to build trust. Stay with it for the long haul. Leaders creating value on social media attach reciprocal value many times in ways not originally perceived. Leaders are primarily influencers who create value from a position of influence. How leaders influence and who leaders influence are the key. Each leader gets to decide on both.

Foundation, we work with a tool I have created and updated continuously over the past 31+ years that we call a Solution Map. It’s basically where you want to be and how you are going to get there: a roadmap to success. In this Solution Map, the Why and the Outcomes of the work of the nonprofit are clearly identified.The outcomes are the impact the organization has in the lives of people served. When composing communication messages for any form of messaging, especially on social media, it’s crucial to remember to communicate why our work is important and what impact the work has created. Social media is, in fact, social. It’s a relationship building methodology, and not an announcement platform. Here are my four top rules for social media activity. Engage – Listen to people before making an offer or giving advice. I grow weary of people who tell me what I need or how they can help me before they really know what I need. Participate – Be present on a consistent basis. Posting and then going silent for a long time kills any momentum. Friending, following or connecting with people, and then not following up, kills any chance of creating a lasting relationship. Limit your postings and engagements to what you or your team can handle in a reasonable amount of time.

Hugh Ballou is a Transformational Leadership Strategist and the President of SynerVision Leadership Foundation. Amusical conductor for 40 years, Hugh has written eight books on Transformational Leadership, and works with leaders in religious organizations and business and nonprofit communities as executive coach, process facilitator, trainer, and motivational speaker, teaching leaders the fine-tuned skills employed

every day by orchestral conductors. www.SynerVisionLeadership.org

32 I Nonprofit Performance Magazine