Over the past year, I have become heavily involved in the facilitation of IBM’s Services Grants offerings. Although I have conducted grant workshops in each of my areas of expertise (social media, digital marketing and brand analysis) enough times to recite the content in my sleep, each new service grant experience has succeeded in teaching me something beneficial about leadership. The lessons learned have become my guiding principles whenever I prepare for a workshop with a new grant recipient, and have
helped me develop what I like to refer to as the Five Simple Truths of Leading
IBM Services Grants.
The author (standing, 3rd from left) on assignment with Family Services of Westchester, NY
Every Grantee Is Different
It is amazing to see how different supposedly similar organizations can be when it comes to their social media and marketing needs. To start each grant, we ask the grantee to rate their social media and digital strategy aptitude on a scale of 1 to 5. Grantees love to pick “4” (“We are very good, but still have some room for improvement.”). But in my experience, that “room” for improvement could be as small as a closet or as large as a storage unit. Every grantee has different needs, so the sooner you can figure out their comfort level and concerns, the more effectively you can provide them with customized value.
One Size Does NOT Fit All
Grantees’ needs differ, so each organization deserves a customized solution approach. As service grant consultants, we tailor every workshop to the individualized concerns of the grant recipient. Want to hear about exciting ways to use Vine? Cool! Want to learn how to take online fundraising to the next level? Great! It takes a little more preparation time, and requires additional research upfront, but it’s all worth it to see the appreciation in the grantee’s eyes and receive those thoughtful “job well done” emails.
Public Speaking Gets Easier with Time
This truth is about as straightforward as it can be. I used to be a nervous wreck before presentations and workshop facilitation. Now, after a lot of practice, I am as cool as the other side of the pillow. It is all about sparking a conversation, not reciting learned material.
You Can’t Know Everything, so Don’t Pretend You Do
A short time ago, I led a social media workshop where an attendee introduced me to some little known features of Google+. Before that, I led a digital marketing session where three of the four attendees had led previous lives as corporate marketers – a CMO, an SVP of Marketing, and a Brand Manager. In each instance, I have entered the room as an “expert” and exited the room even wiser. I have learned to offer the knowledge I have and absorb the knowledge I do not. With each new lesson I learn, I am able to benefit future grantees that much more.
IBM Services Grants Are About Building Relationships
I am a young guy. In fact, I have been the youngest person in the room in 100 percent of my grant engagements. In order for grant projects to be successful, attendees must trust me as a subject-matter expert – otherwise, they will go to Google or (even worse) another consulting firm the next time they have a problem. I begin building a rapport with grantees during the initial phone conversation, during which I set the casual yet knowledgeable tone they can expect at the workshop. During the workshop, I learn the attendees’ roles, strengths, hobbies, and reservations – the whole nine yards. We come away with personal relationships that allow attendees to appreciate the expertise shared and accept the recommendations offered.
It’s been a great experience being able to donate my time and expertise so early in my career through the IBM Services Grants program. In just the past 12 months, I have had the opportunity to help many organizations build effective social media and digital marketing strategies. What the organizations do not realize, however, is how profoundly they have affected my leadership, strategic collaboration and relationship-building skills.
Elliott Davis is a consultant in the Social Business Center of Competence, a strategic partnership between IBM’s Global Business Services and Software Group. He is on a mission to help organizations step out of their comfort zones, embrace the power of
social business, and form closer partnerships with customers and employees.
Related Resources:
IBM Services Grants Help Nonprofits Operate More Effectively
IBM Project Management Grant Helps Memphis Advance a Culture of Excellence
