In building a following and leading, leaders some times confuse attention and support. There is a difference. Attention means that people are aware of you. They’re aware of what you are doing or what you about.
Don’t confuse your presence being acknowledged with being supported. When people see you they say so, they’re merely saying they see you. Support, on the other hand, says we see what you are doing and this is how we are going to contribute.
Support is an enabling force. It is giving into your vision. It is people putting their hands on the same plow as you. Attention is people watching you push the plow. Attention and support are related.
You need to capture attention to draw support. Skeptic can give you their attention but not give you support. If you’re going to get people behind your vision, you need to find a way for them to know that you exist.
Some will immediately see what you’re doing and want to be a part of it. Some will need to know why you’re doing it. Others want to get involved but you need to make it easy for them to do so. Make the information easily available. Talk about what you’re doing. Be convincing and intentional about how you share what you’re about.
Heretic leaders understand the importance of getting people’s attention to their cause. What you do can make a greater impact when there are more people with you. Momentum is an underrated force. Not only do you need people’s attention you need to move people from being an audience to being participants.
The audience must be become converts of your cause into vision enablers. Don’t waste an opportunity to get build your audience. Furthermore, don’t be content with an audience; make them converts of your cause. Be bold. Be /ˈherətik/.