--- title: "Practicing Leadership Beyond The Bookshelf" id: "16033" type: "post" slug: "practicing-leadership-beyond-the-bookshelf" published_at: "2013-02-25T22:50:39+00:00" modified_at: "2026-03-15T19:43:26+00:00" url: "https://associationsnow.com/2013/02/25/practicing-leadership-beyond-the-bookshelf/" markdown_url: "https://associationsnow.com/2013/02/25/practicing-leadership-beyond-the-bookshelf.md" excerpt: "Want to manage your employees better? Ask them how. Also: How to maintain a content marketing approach to customer service." taxonomy_category: - "Executive Leadership" taxonomy_post_tag: - "AssociationsNow" - "Cost Management" - "employee engagement" - "Leadership" taxonomy_content_format: - "Article" taxonomy_role: - "Director" - "Manager" - "VP" taxonomy_persona: - "Association Professionals" --- [Home](https://associationsnow.com/) » [Articles](https://associationsnow.com/format/article/) » Practicing Leadership Beyond The Bookshelf What do your employees need to be more efficient in the workplace? If you can’t answer that, it’s time you learn. The most straightforward way to lead, and more, in today’s Social Media Roundup: ### Toss The Book > World’s Simplest Leadership Secret [http://t.co/Fn6ZXqLFr7 (opens in a new tab)](http://t.co/Fn6ZXqLFr7) > > — Plexus Consulting (@PlexusforAssns) [February 25, 2013 (opens in a new tab)](https://twitter.com/PlexusforAssns/status/306044122597310464?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw) **I bet you have at least one leadership book on your shelf.** It’s time to put the book away and listen to your employees. You can’t lead effectively if you don’t know what they need from you. [Virgil Carter (opens in a new tab)](http://plexusconsulting.blogspot.com/2013/02/worlds-simplest-leadership-secret.html) , senior advisor at Plexus Consulting Group, recommends that you manage each employee as an individual. “Because individuals differ from one another, what works with one individual may not work with someone else.” How are you guiding your employees? *(ht [@PlexusforAssns (opens in a new tab)](https://twitter.com/PlexusforAssns/status/306044122597310464) )* ### Managing Inquiries > Event Content Marketing: Thinking Through Customer Inquiries [http://t.co/mvTzJZG8M9 (opens in a new tab)](http://t.co/mvTzJZG8M9) > [#events (opens in a new tab)](https://twitter.com/hashtag/events?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw) > [#eventprofs (opens in a new tab)](https://twitter.com/hashtag/eventprofs?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw) > > — Kate Matthews 🌹 (@TechTravelAgent) [February 25, 2013 (opens in a new tab)](https://twitter.com/TechTravelAgent/status/306133150759784449?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw) **How do you respond to customer inquiries?** Donna Kastner, director of education and engagement at Velvet Chainsaw Consulting, thinks customer service is a valuable force within your content marketing plan. In her latest [blog post in the Cvent blog (opens in a new tab)](http://blog.cvent.com/blog/meeting-planning-innovation/event-content-marketing-thinking-through-customer-inquiries#.USvEZ1WqblI.twitter) , Kastner shares a story of getting a disappointing response to a content-related inquiry. Her suggestion for tackling inquiries: “If you go fishing in the content marketing ocean and you get a bite, don’t blow it in the inquiry stage. Even for instances where the prospect may not be a fit, be timely, professional, and helpful in your follow-up,” she writes. *(ht [@TechTravelAgent (opens in a new tab)](https://twitter.com/TechTravelAgent/status/306133150759784449) )* What cool links have you been sharing today? Let us know in the comments below. [Anita Ferrer](https://associationsnow.com/author/anita-ferrer/) Anita Ferrer is a contributor to Associations Now. [More articles by this author](https://associationsnow.com/author/anita-ferrer/) Tags: [#Cost Management](https://associationsnow.com/tag/cost-management/) [#employee engagement](https://associationsnow.com/tag/employee-engagement/) [#Leadership](https://associationsnow.com/tag/leadership/) **Stay Informed** [Subscribe to our free newsletter](https://associationsnow.com/newsletter/) , *Associations Now Daily News*, to find out what’s happening in the association world every business day. ## You Might Like - [VideoInvesting in Well-being: The Strategic Advantage of Mental Health Support in the WorkplaceJune 23, 2025](https://associationsnow.com/2025/06/23/investing-in-well-being-the-strategic-advantage-of-mental-health-support-in-the-workplace/) - [VideoInt. 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