Monica Wofford, CSP, teaches leaders to understand and improve their own leadership in using practice, skills, and desire as their three areas of focus.

How do you stay connected to people, opportunities and potential?

Have you ever met someone and just clicked with them? It’s that kind of connection where you meet and you just latch on to each other and talk or chat like you’ve known each other for ten years? It’s a great feeling, yes? But have you also had the opposite experience where you meet someone and for some reason you just back away…feeling or thinking this might not be the kind of connection you want to create? It happens, too! So, how in this new year do you purposely connect with more people or opportunities that will get you closer to feeling of that WOW?

Whether you are a Contagious Leader of others, one who is an avid reader of Contagious Leadership or someone who has listened to every word of the Contagious Confidence CD set and can’t wait to add more confidence to your 2012, the reality is we rub off on others. We’re all contagious and here are a few ideas to increase your Contagious Connections with other fellow leaders who are confident and successful, because as you know, those things rub off, too!

Take the Time to Share Your Input

The ways of connecting with others have grown exponentially in the last few years and you can now connect with strangers, prospects, customers and friends worldwide on over 100 social media networks at all hours of the day. Take the time to engage and share and connect with those others out there. You don’t have to be the one man show anymore or the lone leader in this day and age and your posts, messages, tweets, and input matter. In fact, here’s an example of how you can take immediate action on this tip. We want to hear from you and get your opinion. Do you prefer audio Monday Moments or would you like to see videos instead? Click “Like” on the Contagious Companies page on Facebook and share your input, then get in the habit of sharing your input with others who also value your opinion.

Keep Your Eyes Open for Opportunities

It’s been said that “Luck” is when preparation meets opportunity, but do you listen for opportunities to get lucky. Okay, so wait, that didn’t sound right, but you know what I mean. Are you looking for opportunities to connect with others who may have that information you need, that solution you seek? If not, you may not be surprised to find that it is taking longer to get what you want or where you want to go. Tell yourself there are opportunities out there and keep your eyes peeled. Even this week, I saw on Facebook, a fan posted that she was finding a lot of opportunities to talk with people the week between Christmas and New Year’s, that she didn’t expect. Now, that’s someone looking for opportunities and taking action, being a Contagious Leader of her own behaviors, and gaining from those opportunities. Was she lucky or staying open to opportunities?

Believe You Have Value

Marianne Williamson, author of The Gift of Change and many other resources, is well known for saying “Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure.” Whether it’s on LinkedIn or Facebook, in a large group, or one on one in an elevator chat with a stranger, you want to get to a place where you believe you have value to share and let go of the acceptance of mediocrity. Others want the value you offer. What can you share that is of value and what can you do to increase your own Contagious Confidence™ in the value you have to offer to anyone with whom you connect? We believe you have value and we want to hear from you so tweet me @monicawofford or send me a message on LinkedIn and let’s make more of a connection! In fact, we even want to know what you value most about your own leadership style or sense of Contagious Confidence?

Here’s to your great 2012 and stay tuned this week for more blog posts on Contagious Commentary about your own Contagious Connections. Please forward this message to your colleagues who will find value and invite them to join our Monday Moment broadcast at MondayMoment.com. But don’t stop there, tweet me, message me and share your input on the Facebook poll because we believe your input matters and want to contagiously connect with you!

Stay Contagious!

Monica

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