From the monthly archives: June 2010
[Photos by the lovely Joanie Tobin, 2010]
I have only one priority in my life – it’s my family. This doesn’t mean that other things, like work, aren’t of importance. In fact, work is a very important part of my life, it challenges me, nurtures me, and enables me to provide for others. But the truth is I would drop everything for them – especially Lucy and Colin.
They are my life as well as the two best cheerleaders anyone could ask for. They ground me. They inspire me. They encouragement me. And perhaps most importantly, they love me, unconditionally. What grounds you? What is the one thing that brings you back to what’s important?
There is a quite a bit of chatter about how companies should engage with online consumers within the social media space – including suggested service etiquette, rules of engagement, and how to simply listen effectively.
Social media has enabled a new channel for customer feedback. It’s more than just a one-way feedback opportunity, but rather the start of a two-way dialogue where the change process can be witnessed and the outcome quickly implemented. As a customer, how do we maximize this channel and these new dialogues to foster a valuable outcome?
Well, we could moan and vent about our frustrations via Twitter, Facebook or even Yelp, but does that offer workable substance. How is that productive? I mentioned in an old post that just because you have the means to tweet or voice your opinion online (and have a potential product/service grievance), doesn’t mean you should do so carelessly or without some thought to your desired resolution.
Samantha Ogborn wrote a great post, Social Media Karma: Why Your Voice Reigns that offers insight into how you (as a consumer) can effectively leverage and increase the value of your social media voice.
Yesterday I tweeted a resolution for June:
Part I, single-tasking.
Part II, 1 new post per week.
Part III, 2 comments per week.
The first of any month seems like an opportunity for renewal – June’s perfect for this. This is not the first time I’ve decided a revision was in order (here and here). I am, and probably will always be, undergoing a constant state of revision. It’s something I seek to do often. I find great value in personal reflection, growth, and development.
Right now I crave intellectual growth. These three particular resolutions are a start:
I. Single-tasking. With Lucy here, my time is increasingly precious and my need to be efficient and effective is critical. Multitasking simply does not work for me anymore – and perhaps it never really did. It leaves too many tasks, projects, and ideas open and usually incomplete. By single-tasking I am able to tackle one idea at a time. Focus on it, create it, and complete it with everything I have. As a result, I’m producing higher quality work and am able to be much more present to the process.
For more on single-tasking, I highly recommend the wisdom of Tim Walker:
- DAGTOOTAAT (“Do A Grand Total Of One Thing At A Time.”)
- Once again: Do Not Multitask.
II. One new post per week. It’s time to exercise my mind and tease out my ideas (it’s a bit cluttered up there at the moment). Blogging is how I’ve always done that. Recently circumstance and severe writer’s block have prevented me from doing so. The primary culprit – fear. More specifically, a fear of what others will think and of simply making a mistake. Though as I have learned from Sir Ken Robinson mistakes can lead to innovation and fear of them can only harm such creativity. It’s time to face my fears.
III. Two comments per week. Yes, comments. Do people still comment on blogs? They do. In fact, I love commenting and wish I did it more frequently, which is why it’s on the list. I’m sure folks think that there is better use of my time, but I find commenting very value. It’s an opportunity to stretch my own brain and enhance critical thinking skills (something that’s a proactive process for me personally). It’s also an awesome opportunity to engage with wonderfully bright individuals – and there are a ton of them out there.
There you have it. Resolutions aren’t just for the New Year. In fact, the summer is the perfect time to revise yourself, personally and professionally, even if it’s just for the season. What have you been meaning to do, revise, or change? What are you waiting for?
An expert [noun]: a person who has a comprehensive and authoritative knowledge of or skill in a particular area. [adjective]: having or involving such knowledge or skill. There seems to be a number of self-proclaimed social media experts. The result is strategic confusion. Sadly, people and organizations in need are falling victim to misinformation. Sometimes [...]
An expert [noun]: a person who has a comprehensive and authoritative knowledge of or skill in a particular area. [adjective]: having or involving such knowledge or skill.
There seems to be a number of self-proclaimed social media experts. The result is strategic confusion. Sadly, people and organizations in need are falling victim to misinformation. Sometimes unintentionally, and sometimes not.
Market your skill set honestly. I by no means would consider myself an expert really in anything at this stage in my career – still far too much to learn, experiences to be had and mistakes to be made. I believe I have a responsibility, which is to appropriately, and honestly, communicate my abilities, skills and knowledge. I’d like to believe we all have such a code.
I’m not here to point fingers. In fact, the responsibility is twofold. As entrepreneurs, small business owners, or large organizations it our responsibility to select the best candidate or candidates for the job. Typically our goal is to address knowledge gaps and fill areas of need that are perhaps beyond our own scope of experience.
Arm yourself with information. Just like with any employee hire or consultant contract make sure you take the time to better understand your candidate options. Don’t fall victim to buzzwords. Just because someone may know how to talk in social media speak doesn’t mean they are necessarily an expert.
Know your organization’s needs. Do you really need a social media expert? Do your homework ahead of time. Maybe the need is deeper than that. As an organization have you clearly mapped your goals, objectives and/or strategy? If not, then social media isn’t where you need to start.
There are people who I would consider experts. Individuals who are respected, offer wisdom by way of experiences and have the results to back it all up. More often than not I find that they are incredibly modest. They are busy doing rather than boasting or bragging. Instead the communities around them are helping them to build a credible reputation infused with collective confidence.
Expertise takes time to cultivate. Be willing, open and patient to learn from others.
Image: monster in a bag courtesy of arimoore, Flickr
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