Social Media - Making Friends In Business

Lots of blab about social media lately, what it is, what it isn't. What platforms are good, what aren't good, and of course which ones are "professional" and which ones are not. Facebook, Linkedin, Ecademy, Ryze. So many networks. Largely the discussions on social media are much ado about nothing and a lot of pontificating by people who are not even on many of the platforms that they advise are a "waste of time and poor ROI".



Personally, I find it useful to have a profile on many of the social platforms. On the other hand, there is a limit to the time that I can spend to do justice to my contributions, so I do tend to cherry-pick in that regard, and aside from a few old favourites that I support as a show of loyalty to the network owners I am moving more and more toward creating the space on TeamCircle that allows all of my business connections to find me if that's their desire, and avail themselves of the facilities on the network to do the same. Want me? Look there!

Strangely Twitter has been a catalyst for more interactions of an immediate and open style of communication than I'd expected. I've friends on multiple platforms, and it is interesting to me, to see the difference in how communications flow, one network as compared to another. So many business coaches, or virtual assistants or this or that occupation on the networks... and yet what sets them apart as individuals might be a link they post to Twitter of some obscure item that overlaps with an interest of mine, or vice versa - or even a song posted courtesy of Blip.fm! Suddenly we have small clues to follow that allow us some insight into the person behind the name. I do love that!

On the social networking front, I have perhaps rather small lists of connections on the different networks than many of the UberNetworkers, and yet the chances of me getting to know even a few of my contacts, as much as I'd like to, is unlikely at best. On the other hand, I can get to know many, many people, when we have a context in which to interact day-to-day. TeamCircle allows that to happen, and if it happens for me ... then it can happen for them too. Suddenly we have a context in which to share ideas, plot things to do, or just share insights and offer support and a fresh perspective when it's needed. Twitter, and things like Blip.fm just allow that to happen without demanding we divert our attention from our work, but share an experience as we go about what are going about.

The virtual water-cooler, it turns out, is a rather fun place to hang out for a break from the buttoned-up and oh so serious "professional" schtuff.

I'll see you there.




PS. Find me on Blip.fm here


Thinking Of Getting A Business Coach?
Lindy Asimus
Design Business Engineering

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