Saturday, April 10, 2010

How Would You Lead With Social Media 2.0?

The trendy and fashionable use of terminology like tweet, text, e-mail, Skype, and FB me is so centred on oneself that it misses the real deal. Do we really need to participate in every social media movement?

Why participate in these social media networks? Is it a position that you take in the scheme of your personal and professional communication? Or, is it a deep-seated interest you take when it comes to the digital communication platform?

As an active member of selected forums, Twitter, and Facebook I make it a point to establish, maintain and sustain contact with my tribe. My tribe of friends, business associates, students, bloggers, educators and visitors comprise the main profile of my readership and relations. I actively keep in touch with my friends/followers as they provide me another window to their lives and lifestyles. I also get a glimpse of the world, despite our geographic divide; after all, the world is flatter.

Education and entertainment are what the Internet mainly provides. There is a fecundity of websites and blogs, and a plethora of information that will never be fully consumed in one’s lifetime. Thus, we must be clear about how we will communicate with those that matter, and how we can sustain these relationships. Otherwise, we waste time and valuable resources – and time is non-renewable.

It is flattering to have a wide followership, yet pointless if these connections are merely pedestrian and voyeuristic. If you are an Internet marketer, good on you for getting a share of eyeball time! If not, it is a false sense of confidence you may create for yourself until you plunge into the nadir of abandoned followers (or deserters) who make an exodus for the nearest beeline of fresh distractions. Loyalty is a scarce commodity and value to be desired, however difficult to build unless you apply the principles of influence (Cialdini, Robert B.)

Afterthoughts: Call a friend. Really. Make an actual phone call, not a text message. Lead with your mind and heart. Let your fingers do the walking. Get things done faster with the speed of thought, and a conversation.

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