Some things you can only do with your formal power, whilst others can be achieved through social authority alone. And some things lie in the middle: things that can be achieved through formal or social means. Knowing what you are trying to achieve, with clarity, and the domain in which is sits, is an important skill for a Social Leader.
For example: if you wish to record a song, and release it, you can seek out a record contract, try to be noticed, and pitch your ideas to a record label, in search of money and the capability they bring to record, release and distribute a song. Or you can play local gigs, crowdfund the money to record a demo, and use free tools like SoundCloud or YouTube to share your work and build an audience.
Many musicians tread a middle path: relying on their communities and social authority to build momentum, but then hitching up to the formal system to accelerate their reach and progress.
One feature of the Social Age, which provides the context of all our leadership, formal or social, is that technology is increasingly democratised (the technology of creativity and the infrastructure of distribution) and community is increasingly dominant as the amplifier of voice.
But how does this relate to you as a leader?
Use your 60 seconds today to consider what your job is, and to ask yourself how much of it you do through your formal power, and for how much you rely on the social authority granted to your by your community or team.
What can you achieve through formal power alone, what through social, and how often is is a mix?
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