In grammatical terms, “ChipedIn” is a portmanteau–a word that results from blending two or more words, or parts of words, such that the blended word expresses some combination of the meaning of its parts. “Spork” (spoon and fork) is a portmanteau, as is “brunch” (breakfast and lunch).
“ChipedIn” expresses the affectionate blending of two notable entities, like “Bennifer” (Ben Affleck and Jennifer Lopez) or “Brangelina” (Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie). In this case, the blended entities are my friend Chip Baker and the popular social networking platform LinkedIn.
I don’t know who originally came up with the term “ChipedIn,” but I know the first time I heard it. Chip’s wife asked me how I knew her husband. I barely started to answer before she interjected: “Oh, you’re ‘ChipedIn.’” Clearly, she was aware of her husband’s social acumen and had heard responses like mine before.
Chip Baker is an author, podcaster, social media influencer, emerging motivational speaker, and “fourth-generation educator”—a distinction that brings an inevitable smile to his teenage son’s face.
More than anything else, however, Chip is a connector. In fact, he’s one of the best I’ve ever encountered.
Connectors are integral to teambuilding because successful teams are built through relationships. Teammates who are connectors create, grow, and strengthen relationships. Their selfless efforts bond the team in a meaningful way.
Unlike networkers, connectors aren’t motivated by self-interest. Networkers make connections for their personal benefit. Connectors make connections for everyone’s benefit.
Being a connector is about more than weaving a common thread between like-minded people. It’s being intentional about connecting individuals who can help each other, even when that connection doesn’t directly benefit you.
Sometimes team members can be territorial. They isolate themselves to protect their niche. Or worse, they isolate themselves to keep from appearing vulnerable. They would rather meander their way through problems than seek help and risk being exposed as not having a solution.
What these individuals fail to grasp is that they could expand their territory and eliminate their problems if they opened themselves up to new relationships. They don’t realize that they may be one connection away from discovering a viable solution.
Every team needs someone to facilitate the bridging of the gap between problem havers and problem solvers.
Connectors might not have the solution to your problem, but they know someone who could. And in the spirit of being good teammates, they gladly make the necessary introductions. Their contributions to their team (i.e., what they chip in) are connecting their “connections” to each other.
As always…Good teammates care. Good teammates share. Good teammates listen. Go be a good teammate.
Chip Baker relishes opportunities to connect his “connections” to each other. He is a living, breathing, personified version of LinkedIn—hence the appropriateness of the aforementioned portmanteau.
Here’s how you can connect with him (*I promise you won’t regret it!):
Twitter: https://twitter.com/ChipBaker19
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/chipbakertsc/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chipbakerthesuccesschronicles/
