Getting Social and Networking Leadership

Tonight I attended a presentation on starting a young adult ministry for my church. See my church realizes that a huge percentage of our parish is in their 20's and 30's (46% which equals about 560,000 people.) Anyways, there seems to be a disconnect. I feel it. My peers who want to help get things going feel it. I'm sure the twenty- and thirty-somethings feel it too. So this is based on a Renew International presentation by Joe and Leah. (I'm sorry that I cannot for the life of me remember their last names.)

Step Up and Create a Core
Anyways, this all isn't all that relevant except that I learned that a leader has to engage it's audience. You start with a core community. That's the group of us wanting to start and lead this group. Over the next few weeks we'll meet, plan and learn each others' strengths and weaknesses and decide how we can best use those attributes that make us who we are to best accomplish our mission.

This can also translate to new business models and those who want to create a new movement within your company. I kept thinking the whole time is this is why we network. Because where one person lacks information, another can fill it in. Sharing our stories can help each other, to learn from each other. The presenter also mentioned something that really hit me - he said that this generation is so busy. But we know that if we can find a community and come together and realize our collective strengths... That we can get things done a whole lot easier together than one person can do on their own. There was an analogy of individual fingers as opposed to an entire hand. Each individual finger can't do a whole lot on it's own but when you put them together on a hand, they can accomplish a whole lot more.

Invitation
The most interesting part of this is that we talked about everyone wants to find a community where we are valued. It's a basic social need. So we as leaders need to invite others to participate. Not only invite them but to find how they will add value and express that their participation is of value. Of course, without being genuine it will never work.

It's interesting that a lot of those who were present talked about how in college there was a community of every shape and size readily available and variety to choose from. Now that we are graduates, it's a little harder to find that community. Especially if you're a transplant like myself where you've left your core group of friends miles away.

I think the difference between someone who is a leader and who isn't is a leader is ready to take initiative. They are proactive in getting things started and inviting others to join. Invitations should be personal and targeted.

Follow Up
This is pretty close to the invitation but once you invite someone to participate you have to have something to invite them to. You'd think it sounds like a no brainer but it's surprising how people think that just one event is enough to motivate. For example, I moved here to Charlotte and decided to start a book club. Basically after the first meeting I had to have the next event planned (or mostly planned) so that I had something to follow up with people about.

I also think that this is also important to have a quality product or event for people to come to. Obviously some premeditation is required as to who you'll invite and have a proper event or product for your follow up.

It's funny because I knew a lot of information presented because I've felt these things I'd never been given to in a formal way. What do you think?