Margo Myers, Executive Director

As a social dancer, I often attend events as a “follow” and need a “lead” in order to dance. The lead dancer’s job in the dance is to guide me around the floor. The best “leads” are attentive of their partners while being gently assertive about which direction the dance is moving. However, “follows” need to also be fully engaged in the goal. Without my full attention on the right steps to take based on my dance partner’s subtle direction, as a team we can be reduced very quickly to a stumbling mess!

This dynamic is not unlike leadership and teamwork in a business setting. So when I think about authentic leadership, it’s always in the context of a shared goal with followers. Strong leaders without an energetic, involved team can do nothing. But having a good leader can mean the difference between “waltzing” in the right direction and falling on the floor!

What characteristics distinguish authentic leadership?

Authentic leadership is defined by behavior, not title or position. Even the humblest people can exert influence, and thus
leadership.  Some people are born with a natural ability to lead. From an early age, they have boldly barged out into the fray
while the rest of us champion their bravery. And while it’s important on a team to have leaders and followers, any of us can learn to be more authentic in our leadership. Here are a few characteristics which mark an authentic leader.

Authentic leaders show insight – Sometimes referred to as vision, authentic leaders are forward-thinking. They have the ability to take a complex situation and take a course of action which results in positive outcomes and/or change.

Authentic leaders display initiative. Writer Johann Wolfgang von Goethe said it best when he wrote “The right man is the one who seizes the moment.” Authentic leaders don’t sit on the sidelines and wait for someone else to take charge. The just do it! And by doing so lead by example.

Authentic leaders exhibit influence. Others are drawn to their vision and their values.  They inspire a following and are able to excite people into action.

Authentic leaders produce impact. They are able to create real and lasting change. The world is changed because of their leadership. The effectiveness of leadership can be seen in the impact the leader has on his or her followers.

Authentic leaders exercise integrity. Authentic leadership is also different from leadership because it is generous and
kind. Adolf Hitler was a leader and certainly exhibited influence and impact. But his leadership lacked quality values.

Authenticity is defined as the quality or condition of being trustworthy or genuine. It’s also a term in psychology as well as existentialist philosophy and philosophy of art. In existentialism, authenticity is the degree to which one is true to one’s own
personality, spirit, or character. To the extent we deliver our true selves to the marketplace, we have the power to lead with influence and authenticity.

What attributes do you think authentic leaders have? The Springboard Academy welcomes your perspective.

Share this:

Getting prepared

by Catherine Lenox, Springboard blogger and Write Contact owner

Unlike a private blog, when you write a business blog, you’re writing specifically for people you want to be interested in your trade,  products and services. The key is, keep your blog relevant and write about what matters to you. Ask yourself if the topic is useful to potential clients, people in your industry and the general public. You can be candid, personal and even witty. But the goal is to engage your reader with something they value.

And while many excellent blogs focus on one topic only, doing this may paint you into a writer’s corner with nothing left to say. Unless your blog is your entire website, I’d suggest giving yourself a wide berth of topics – particularly if you plan to post daily.

Choosing a focus can be overwhelming and your mind may launch into overload! Brainstorming is a good way to avoid mental implosion. Sit down with a pen and paper and jot down anything which comes to mind about your business. Once you’ve done this you can refine your jots into subject areas and from subject areas into blogs.

Then breathe. Once I reach this point, I take my dog for a walk or sit down and relax with a latte. Doing something completely different gives you time to recharge before you start writing.

Ideas to get you started: 
1. New developments in your industry

2. A road report from a business related trip

3. A book related to your business

4. A guest post from an industry leader

5. Why you joined a trade organization

6. Best answers to a question you pose on Twitter

7. Sage advice you’ve received about business or can give

8. Employee or customer recognition

Once your blog is written, here are some actions you can take:

1. Structure your blogs logically – Find topics which link to each other in a natural progression. This gives your readers continuity which keeps them coming back to your site to read more.

2. Respond to invitations from events and groups – Build audience for your blog. The good news is, with the substantial populations we have in Seattle we have a hometown advantage. If your blog is read in a larger city like Seattle, there’s ample opportunity for you to be invited to networking events or groups or add a forum to your site.

3. Inspire more followers – Though the number of followers a blogger has doesn’t necessarily ensure the blog’s quality, sponsors often weigh the numbers. It’s just a fact. Most bloggers with more followers will get more sponsors.

4. Initiate the conversation – Encourage interactive comments on your blog! Comments show others are reading your blog.

5. Make yourself look good – Appearance is the first thing a reader sees when they arrive at your site. If you’re on a budget, use photos or download free images to make it more compelling. You don’t need dancing funny faces or cheesy music – those slow your site down.  Just keep it easy to read, organized and uncluttered. Spell check, edit, and use titles, subheads, lists and bullet
points throughout your blog.

6. Get the word out! – Post to Facebook, Twitter, Delicious, Pinterest, Reddit, Blogger, Technorati and StumbleUpon. Add to LinkedIn and Diigo. Send via email, and print with PrintFriendly.

If you’re still stuck, read blogs you like and see how those writers maintain a professional tone while still being warm and accessible. And finally, don’t get “blogged down!” Write as if you were having a chat over coffee with your readers. If you’re enthusiastic about your business it can’t help but show in your writing.

Share this:

Margo Myers, Executive Director, The Springboard Academy

by Catherine Lenox, Springboard Academy blogger, and owner, Write Contact Communications

Is blog content necessary?  Blogs lead to more website traffic, social engagement, in-bound links to your site, keyword attention, and as a result, more customers.

In today’s business marketing use of social media has become essential. It’s no longer enough to market your product or services by just telling your audience what you provide. Building effective consumer trust has become a two-way conversation.  And while outbound marketing (paid advertisements, press releases, or commissioned sales people) is still important, inbound marketing (blogs and other social media) has become a top way to attract customers because it builds relationships and trust. Adding
social media to your marketing strategy is a must!

It’s simple. Statistics show visitors who view blog posts on websites stay longer. And when they stay longer, they are more likely to interact with your products and services (your brand). In addition to keeping people on your site longer, you’ll also have the
opportunity to position yourself as a thought leader. Adding promotion of blog content to your website will only support your marketing strategy further.

Getting started is easy. First, highlight popular blog posts in your newsletters. Add links to popular blog content from your website pages. Go through the pages on your website and create internal links to your blog content.

I’m guessing by now some of you may be muttering to yourself, “It’s easy for her to say. I know I should write a blog! But I’m busy with my business – I just don’t have the time. Or, writing is agonizing for me – I’m just not a writer.”

Have no fear – your writers are here! Fortunately a handful of kindhearted entrepreneurs feel your pain and have created a few easy options for writing blogs.

MediaPiston – One of the easiest ways to create blog content, this platform does most of the work for you. Their simple template allows to you create a blog quickly at a reasonable cost.

TextBroker.com – Using a price per word model, TextBroker makes it easy to find authors for your blog.

Zerys.com – Zerys also enables you to find expert authors easily. You set the price for your project. Working with defined experts, however, is more costly.

Freelancer & oDesk – Are you working on a budget? These provide inexpensive support.

Blogs are your opportunity to draw more customers into yourwebsite.  Why not get started?

Share this:

By Catherine Lenox, Springboard Academy blogger

Lee Iacocca, former president of Chrysler, once said, “You can have brilliant ideas – but if you can’t get them across they won’t get you anywhere.” Iacocca was right.

Good communication is imperative. How we walk, dress, hold our bodies, look at others, speak and write is all a part of our personal brand. And how effectively we present ourselves to others through our brand is essential to personal and business success. In other words, in order to communicate your brilliant ideas make certain you’re presenting them in the best light possible!

In a first impression, The Springboard Academy says, strangers see only a very tiny percentage of others. Snap decisions are made based solely on ones’ appearance and how we enter a room, shake hands, make eye contact, smile, or sit. Research claims this non-verbal conversation accounts for nearly 90 percent of how we are perceived by strangers even before a word is spoken! And since this sample is all they have to work with strangers will unconsciously assume the sample is an accurate reading of what we’re like all the time.

Social media channels have also magnified the opportunity for immediate communications, both good and bad. So it’s become even more important to be watchful of your brand and give your first impressions the chance to shine.

Recently my girlfriend noticed a well-known company’s advertising had a glaring grammatical error on its downtown Seattle billboard. The company had used the possessive form of a word when it should have been plural.

“You’d think they would have proofed their advertising copy before putting it on a billboard,” she’d quipped. Truthfully, a week earlier I’d also seen the error and wondered the same thing.

Was it essential to the message proper grammar be used? Probably not – we both knew what the company meant to
say. However their use of careless copy did cause us to question their professionalism. And it may have even influenced us to think twice before using their services. First impressions are powerful!

Communication between management and staff and among co-workers is also critical to a successful workplace. Poor communication can result in misunderstandings and mistrust. Taking the time to develop good verbal, non-verbal and written communications is highly important in the workplace. Improved exchanges of ideas, feedback, and understanding will strengthen employee morale and company productivity.

So whether you’re a corporation with a billboard campaign, a manager with an agenda or only one person with a great idea, delivering good communication will always be good business.

Share this:

Catherine Lenox offers this primer on the making connections!

Margo Myers, Executive Director, The Springboard Academy

I was born networking. Meeting people has always been easy for me.  Given any excuse, I frequent parties, mixers, meet-and-greets and events designed to bring people together. I often strike up conversations with strangers.  My mother loved to tell the
story of when I would come home long-faced in the first grade. “They moved my desk because I talk too much,” I’d say woefully. “I miss my friends.” The next day, she said, I’d come home beaming. “Guess what new friends I made today!? I like them so much!” By the end of the school year, I knew everyone in the class personally.

At that young age I didn’t have a name for what I was doing. But I know now it was networking. Or, as The Springboard Academy co-founder Suzanne Keel-Eckmann says, “Networking is simply meeting people we don’t know yet.”

These many years later, applying this native tendency to building business relationships has become essential. And while face-to-face meetings and mixers are still an important element of business networking, social networking has rapidly become equally important.

Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn and Google+ are just a few of the online ways to interact with potential customers and employees online. Access to customers and potential new employees is instant and interactive, making this connection platform very powerful. But don’t downplay the importance of traditional ‘face to face’ networking, such as business mixers. It’s still important.

So how do you build a business supportivenetwork and make the right connections? Suzanne Keel-Eckmann advises to attend social networking functions with a purpose if your desired outcome is business-related. Don’t just go to have fun. Go instead with a dedicated plan and goal in mind of why you are attending and what you want to accomplish. Be direct and professional. And, don’t limit yourself to networking at specific events. Make networking a way of life. Connect with people anywhere. This can also be said of making social media connections.

Suzanne also recommends developing an “elevator speech,” a short yet powerful description of what you do. Make it succinct and engaging. Lead with a comment which says what you do in an interesting way which makes the listener want to learn more. Be ready to use this “elevator speech” liberally in dialogue with others personally or online.

The Springboard Academy also recommends joining professional groups such as LinkedIn to engage others in conversation. You may find the right candidate for a position in your company. Or through encouraging connections on Facebook or Twitter, grow your company brand. Even those who don’t need what you can offer may bring you business. Their network may know someone who could use your goods or services.

What others say about you on social media can also generate a “trending topic,” one which has gone viral on Twitter, which creates massive exposure for your company. Nothing convinces others about a business more than to hear others say good things about it!

Business to business relationships can also be fostered through social media. You may find someone interested in a joint venture and share your work, cutting your costs in half.

And while on the subject, don’t eliminate the tried and true business card! You never know when you will run into an important business contact in the grocery store. Keep plenty of cards on hand. Sometimes the most powerful connections are spontaneous.

Finally, meeting other business people may net you a valuable mentor or give you an important piece of advice to boost your bottom line. You may also share your expertise and do your part to help others.

The strength of networking is interaction. And when a connection is made, everyone succeeds.

Share this:

Written by Springboard blogger and communications specialist Catherine Lenox. Let us know what you think!

“If I go into work dressed in a suit my co-workers will think I’ve gone nuts,” my girlfriend exclaimed. “Nobody dresses up where I work.” It’s true in today’s Dress Down Friday Internet relaxed workplace that dress is often casual. And it’s important to know your company culture so you don’t alienate others by showing up over-dressed.  But casual doesn’t mean sloppy.  And dressing sharp can often give you more credibility and elevate your career.

Men! This is for you too! A French girlfriend once wrinkled her nose at me as we sipped our coffees. “Oh, American men,” she exclaimed. “I love them! They are so handsome. But, mon dieu, their shoes! They need to polish them. They look terrible!” Yes, guys. Attire should reflect how you want others to perceive you.  In the office, a button down shirt in a color which complements you (more about his later), polished shoes, and a jacket and pants in subdued colors are best.  If ties are worn in your office keep them conservative. That hot pink flamingo wonder you wore to your sister’s beach wedding in Hawaii last summer shouldn’t ever see the board room! Save it for your social life.

The Springboard Academy teaches how to build a versatile, affordable wardrobe from within your own closet – or how to buy just the right select pieces.  You’ll learn to non-verbally cue “I am serious about my work” through your appearance without sacrificing your individuality. I discovered my preferred style type is classic. By sticking to that perimeter, I can release trendy-bohemian clothes from my closet and focus on keeping the classics. And by clearing out shoes which don’t fit this type, I can ease my closet’s clutter even more. This saves time and energy in my race to get ready in the morning.

Once you’ve determined your personal style, (or gotten some help figuring it out) observe how managers dress in your office and dress accordingly.  Make sure what you wear fits well. If it’s too big, you’ll look diminished and small. If it’s too small, you’ll look slovenly and overfed.

Additionally, know your personal color palette. Wrong colors can make you look grey and sallow. Janet Spangler, Image Stylist at Colors Made Easy, http://www.facebook.com/home.php#!/COLORSmadeEasy, and Springboard Academy Consultant can identify the right colors to brighten your face and make you look energetic and youthful.

Gals! Springboard Academy’s make-up artists can also outline a simple, quick make-up application process for you based on your skin tone. After my session a friend asked me, “Did you have work done?”  A shift of makeup was all it took.  This session also includes how to make your hair look and feel great.

The quintessential fashion designer Yves Saint Laurent once said, “Fashion comes and fashion goes, but style is eternal.” Finding a balance between appropriately casual dress and professional appearance can be tricky. Luckily Springboard Academy can teach you how.

Margo Myers, Springboard Academy Executive Director

Share this:

Imagine walking into a business mixer and finding 800 million people in the room.  You discover 400 of these people are actively engaged in conversation. Of these, 130 people know each other personally. Plus 70 languages are being spoken and over 300,000
guests are serving as translators. This picture gives you an idea of the scope of Facebook alone without even taking into consideration other social media platforms.  Adding Twitter, LinkedIn andBlogs measurably increases this number.

You realize you have the opportunity to meet thousands of people from all over the globe who might be interested in you and your business.  But how in this sea of people are you going to get noticed?

One way to rise above the crowd is to be completely consistent with your personal branding. If you do this throughout your social
media platforms, others can “recognize” you immediately. The Springboard Academy’s Executive Director Margo Myers says, personal branding is what you want to be known for and the results you want to deliver – in a way, it’s your reputation.  The importance of keeping that “brand” professional in all areas of your life, including social media, iscrucial.

How do you build social media brand consistency?

First, it’s essential to be consistent in your Facebook posts. Keep them professional. An unflattering or less-than-appropriate photo or comment on Facebook might provide momentary fun for your friends but it could wreak havoc on your business reputation! You’d think twice about dancing on your table at a business function.   It’s the same thing online. So post thoughtfully and strategically. And while the look and feel of most social media platforms is different when someone visits your Facebook or Twitter page, others should know it’s your brand.

Also if you know HTML or FBML or know someone who can write it for you, you can use the FBML tab to create a tab which is very similar to your website. Options in Facebook’s About section also enable you to upload a logo, pictures, or switching tab. A great example of this can be seen at Springboard Academy’s blog page, http://thespringboardacademy.com/blog/.

And speaking of Blogs, make sure your writing style is consistent. You want your words to be distinctive enough readers so know it’s you even before reading your byline. Including links to other related websites also adds relevance to your blog.

Branding is easy on Twitter. You can design a background with your logo and contact information, including your Facebook, website and blog URLs and any other social media platforms you use. For ideas, check out Twitter pages of others you are following. Remember, 140 characters or less for your profile, so keep it consistent with your ‘brand’ and what you want to be
known for.

Less customization-friendly than Facebook or Twitter, you can still upload a logo with your profile photo on LinkedIn. Include a tagline, mission statement, bio, etc. in your summary. You can also upload slideshows via Slideshare, www.slideshare.net/ to
communicate your brand.

EMarketer, www.emarketer.com/, the online site which publishes data, analysis and insights on digital marketing, media and commerce estimates U.S. businesses spent more than three billion dollars on social networking sites in 2011, a 55% increase from
2010. And 2012 trend shows no signs of slowing down. So while traditional advertising methods (TV, radio, magazines and newspapers) are still being used, companies are rapidly using social media.

The Springboard Academy, http://thespringboardacademy.com teaches principles of how to best brand yourself with consistency so when others find you, you’re showing them your best self.

Do you have ways of building brand consistency in the social media platforms you use? We encourage your comments.

Margo Myers, Executive Director, The Springboard Academy

Share this:

Two years ago when we first started GoGirl Academy, now the Springboard Academy, we created our curriculum around ‘personal brand.’ It was a relatively new term — not in use by just about everyone with a product or name to sell. Here’s how we see your ‘personal brand’: it’s ‘what do you want to be known for, and what results do you want to deliver?’ In a way, to use an ‘old school’ term, it’s similar to your ‘reputation.’ It’s ‘delivering something of value to a customer and delivering it in such a way that it creates an emotional connection with that customer.’

So why should you determine your personal brand? Here are 3 key reasons.

1. Clarification. This involves some self-evaluation. What IS your reputation? How do others see you? How do you see yourself? What are your values? Your strengths? And what results do you want to deliver? Once you determine all of this, you can begin to concentrate on the key characteristics of your brand, and how those characteristics translate to results. It helps you determine your strengths and gain clarity about yourself and what you want to accomplish.

For example, think of Oprah. What comes to mind? Compassionate, influential, wealthy. And she leverages those characteristics to do good in the world. It’s part of her personal brand. Think of Tiger Woods. Great golfer, family man, cheater. In reality, his private behavior did not match his public persona, and he has some work to do to restore his personal brand. His was not an authentic brand.

My personal brand statement is “I want to be known for being upbeat, creative, and having a high level of personal integrity, so that I can deliver quality communications (whether it’s Springboard classes or PR) for my clients to boost their bottom line.”

Why upbeat? No one likes to be around a grouch, and clients come back for repeat business. Creative? Clients’ needs differ, and I want to be creative in crafting a solution that fits their situation. Integrity? My personal credibility means a lot. (As a former news anchor, I spent years building up my credibility and trust). I do what I say I’ll do, and I expect the same in clients. Quality communications? I want to do a great job for my clients to increase their business!

2. Consistent Communication. Once you’ve determind your personal brand statement, you want to communicate it in a consistent manner. We have so many platforms open to us today — the office, your network, social media, and friends — that being authentic and consistent is key. You can’t be everything to everyone. Choose those values that are important to you, and communicate them in everything you do — whether it’s your appearance, your speech, or your communications with others. It’s what you communicate (and keeping that message consistent) that will make you stand out from the crowd in an age where we are so often dealing with ‘information overload.’

3. Evaluate Your Brand. As we grow and change as people, you’ll want to check in with yourself twice a year to evaluate your brand statement. If your unique values and key attributes have undergone changes, adjust your personal brand statement as needed. You need to stay true to your unique self. Be authentic, (because everyone can spot a fake). Remember, no one can be a better you than YOU!

These are three things to consider as you begin 2012, and determine whether a personal brand statement will help you move forward in business. And if you want to know more, contact me at margo@thespringboardacademy.com.

Margo Myers, Executive Director, The Springboard Academy 

Share this:

What kind of information is appropriate to “tweet” on Twitter? It’s up to you – choose who you want to talk with and what you want to hear or read. Instantly connect to what’s most important to you. This micro-blogging site allows you to follow comments and links from experts and co-workers in your profession. It also connects you to instant worldwide news 24-hours a day as it is happening. These can keep you right at the forefront of your profession.

To make the best use of Twitter, Kadee Gray, Social Media Marketing Manager at Produxs, suggests the following:

1. Build stronger, not bigger: The point of Twitter is to network and create relationships, yes but don’t take on more than you can handle. If you spread yourself too thin, you can’t give sound attention to those you really want to build a relationship with. It takes time.

2. Don’t just talk at people, talk to them. Twitter is about sharing but if you’re only there to broadcast yourself, people will lose interest in you quickly. Answer questions, ask questions, converse with others, and get to know people. It’s the most organic way to grow your network. Promote other people, be a connector, share their information you find interesting. It’s flattering, sort of a virtual compliment. It’s a great way to make friends and gain followers. The best way to reach anyone is to help them and to focus on them rather than push yourself in the center all the time.

3. Make local connections. Following big names in big cities is of course beneficial but connecting with locals in your career industry can be very beneficial also. Find someone you have something in common with and start a conversation. These are the people that can let you in on networking events, local trends, act as a resource and introduce you to others. Twitter is great for catching up, but nothing beats a face to face interaction.

4. Use lists. With all the noise that’s on Twitter these days it’s easy to get overwhelmed, burnt out and give up before you have even really started. By creating Twitter lists, you can segment the people you follow and the subjects you’re interested in. When your brain is focused on last night’s basketball game, check your sports stream. When you’re looking for a good sushi place, check your local stream. When you’re looking for breaking news, check your news stream. Lists truly help organize all the Twitter activity happening and allows you to use itmore effectively.

5. Don’t be afraid to jump into a conversation. Public conversation – that is the nature of Twitter. If someone doesn’t want you listening or giving an opinion on what they tweet, they wouldn’t put it out there. You’d actually be surprised how open most people are to random comments and questions. Following others and posting your own information will only get you so far. If there is someone you want to virtually meet or admire, just send them a tweet, introduce yourself and get the ball rolling. Like any relationship though, you have to keep at it if you want it to grow.

6. Tweet great content. There is enough noise on Twitter – don’t add to it. If you read something and found it useful, share it. Give your point of view or your favorite snippet from the article. Tell them why you think it’s worth reading, this will force you to truly think about why you’re posting a piece of information. And please, stay away from “I had eggs for breakfast” type posts. Tweeting legitimate content will get you more followers, earn you respect in the Twitter community and create interest around you as a person. Offer something a bit different and people will take notice.

To join in on the conversation at Springboard Academy, follow us at Springboard Academy@TSBAcademy. We look forward to hearing from you!

Catherine Lenox, Kadee Gray and Margo Myers, The Springboard Academy

Share this:

Margo Myers, Executive Director, The Springboard Academy

Recently a friend who is looking to hire an employee asked me if I saw any value in searching LinkedIn profiles. I said “absolutely!” I told her while LinkedIn doesn’t replace the traditional methods of job-hunting, like a resume, when used in conjunction with a resume it can actively support an employee search.

LinkedIn is professional networking site which provides a way to establish business connections with other people. LinkedIn profiles are an easy way to determine if a prospective employee has professional contacts and, even better, personal
testimonials from those who have worked with them. Since successful workplaces thrive when employees are active and engaged, a savvy hiring manager may want to check if a prospective employee has a LinkedIn site.

LinkedIn accounts are a quick way for anyone to showcase their career accomplishments over the internet. Unlike resumes, which should only be sent to a targeted audience for specific purpose like a posted job opening, Linked In can be seen by anyone who is looking for someone with specific talents and skills. The smart business professional knows this and does most likely have a
LinkedIn profile.

For those building a LinkedIn profile or for those searching to hire a good employee, the best LinkedIn profiles contain only highlights. Accounts don’t need to mention work responsibilities and past employment experience. More comprehensive information and references can be mentioned in the resume. Since people tend to scan over profiles rather than inspect them carefully, an easily skimmed outline which catches the best or most unique qualities is best.

LinkedIn can also be used as a wonderful research tool to find decision makers in companies. Its advanced search function enables users to focus on a company and find employees who already hold a specific job. Even better, LinkedIn can determine if a user has mutual connections with any of these people, either personal or by way of a Group. So as a search tool for job seekers, it’s a gold
mine. But LinkedIn is also invaluable to those seeking to build their business network and those hiring employees.

In a recent article, John Gelberg, Chief Content Officer at Blue Mountain Media, a Web design, development and Marketing Company based in New York, points out the value of using LinkedIn to those hiring employees.  http://www.inc.com/jon-gelberg/how-to-use-linkedin-for-hiring.html.

In concept, LinkedIn is a virtual “business-after-hours-mixer.” But the beauty of this “mixer” is it is online and accessible all the time.

For helpful tips to creating a LinkedIn profile, go to => http://linkedin-for-jobseekers.com/linkedin-profile-tutorial.htm

Share this: