Blog Archives
Appreciating the Anti-Social Side of Social Media Managers
If you’re taken the Myers-Briggs, what are the ABCs of your personality? Well my results always teeter totter on that first letter of those four letter results. Oddly, the others always remain the same. Today and most days, mine is INTJ – I being for introvert. In more uncomfortable moments, I play chameleon and land on E.
For those of us who do digital and social media for a living, the expectation is that we are, in fact, highly social beings. Business requires us to be extroverts, especially those of us in social business, so where does that leave introverts who need time for themselves and do businesses/companies appreciate the introverts who just need a social time out?
In my Sunday morning TED video binge ritual, I came across Susan Cain’s “The Power of Introverts.” It left me feeling a little empowered, and yet a little frustrated. Empowered because I want the change, and understand that if you want something, you must demand it and have the courage to not just believe but to act. Frustrated because it only stirs up moments of self-doubt and frankly guilt for my need for solitude.
In January, Forbes published an article entitled, “The Secret Power Of Introverts” highlighting Cain’s book – Quiet. I’ve included a video of Cain’s TED talk below. In the video, she talks about the advantages of introverts, the need for us to share our strengths and talents, and the need for a societal shift to appreciate introversion through behavior and action.
Susan Cain: The Power of Introverts (TED talk)
Susan concludes her talk with these 3 Call-to-Actions:
1. Stop the madness for constant group work
When I graduated from undergrad, I remember the incessant amounts of group work. Yes, we do need to learn the skills of working together, but we also need to learn to work in solitude. As I get ready to start my MBA, I am fully aware that the program will require LOTS of group work. Ideas are often sparked by interactions, but there is supreme value in autonomy and independence – for introverts and extroverts alike.
2. Go to the wilderness
I love her call for us to unplug. We live in a constantly connected world. I spend approximately 85+ hours of my week engaging and interacting with people, whether online or offline. So, when it comes time for the weekend, especially Sundays, I need a time out! For years, I felt shame and guilt for my need for solitude. Now, I mainly think, “Screw it! I need me-time.” And that’s perfectly okay.
3. Look inside and share what’s in your suitcase.
Many of us forget to listen to our own voice – find time for reflection and deep thought. We’re running. Running here, running there, running off somewhere. But rarely do we make the time to commit to ourselves. I may not come up with genius or innovative ideas or thoughts that I’ll share with the world, but I believe in process. And hopefully, as I process through those ideas and challenges for my company and our world, I may make some sort of lasting impact. So although I may not open my suitcase to everyone, all at once, we introverts can give little peeks.
And, what about you? Are you an introvert or extrovert? What are your thoughts on Susan Cain’s “Power of Introverts”?
Relationship-Building: Transitioning Online to IRL
Social media is a philosophy. It’s how we engage as human beings. It’s doing the right thing. And it’s being open, honest and transparent. But, it also has its pitfalls. At the end of the day, it’s all about relationships.
Well, Women’s Health magazine says there are 15 defining moments of a relationship. A relationship online or IRL (in real life) still has milestones we have to reach. But transitioning from online to IRL is not easy. We, as humans, crave deeper connections. Do you consider it dating someone if that relationship has only been online? Honestly, I wouldn’t. It might actually be a little creepy. So, how do you bridge to that — the IRL relationship?
I’m no expert, but here are a few tips I’ve found along the way.
Be at the right place, at the right time.
This is the hardest tenet, but it also means you have to seek out opportunities too. Sure it’s coincidence that you may be on a plane with someone you. Someone wise once told me, you never know who you’ll sit next to on that next flight. And time and time again, I’ve been amazed by just taking out my headphones.
Face to face / voice to voice.
That first phone call is a little unnerving. Reacting in real-time and in more than 140 characters. As we would online, listen first and invest in the relationship. Working with bloggers and customers, what I’ve learned is take more time listening to how their day went, what they are looking for and then working to propose a solution.
Don’t force it.
I admire the people who can just walk up to someone and talk to them. But often when I stick around, I’m turned off by the cut to the chase mentality. Don’t walk into a room thinking what can you do for me, but what can I do for you. The key here is to be genuine and a little self-less.
Be open to expanding your network.
The key is – be open. I’ve met some incredible people through networking online – primarily Twitter. From chatting about my favorite TV show (insert plug for Fringe here), learning social media trends and best practices, or professional career coaching – I’ve been floored by the broad network of people.
Commit and invest.
You get out what you put into it. So spend the time and invest in those relationships. I know we get busy, hell – I haven’t posted for months, but when you can, carve out some time to invest. That one person you worked with on one project for a client, may end up being a lifelong friendship. Use the tools to maintain the relationship. I use Twitter and Facebook to keep in touch with both my online and IRL friendships.
Do you have tips you’d like to share?
Top 5 Tips for College Grads
Thousands of college graduates are submitting their resumes for internships and jobs this summer. They’re all hoping to land their dream jobs, or maybe just a job to pay off their $22,900 worth of loans. Ah yes, the generation that gets to walk away with the title: most indebted ever (according to WSJ). But there’s so much more than packing up your cap and gown and looking through the CareerBuilder.com website. Here’s my top 5 tips for this year’s graduates. Hope it helps you in your search!
Top 5 Tips for 2011 Grads
- Find your professional and personal line. I can’t tell you the number of resumes I’ve seen float into my inbox where it takes one search button to tell me all their dirty laundry. Expect employers to Google you. And expect that your first impression may be your last. We recently had interns send us their one paragraph biographies, and I have to admit, I was a little disappointed. Writing is a critical skill, and writing professionally is one that schools just don’t teach. Be more cautious.
- See life with a wide lens, and don’t be afraid to dream. The worst thing you can do is just think about the job, one title, pay check, promotion at a time. When I graduated, I had my heart set on law school. To kill time, I took an internship that changed my career path quite dramatically. Don’t be afraid to find new passions and follow them where they lead you.
- Be confident, but not a jerk about it. The worst thing you can do is walk in thinking you know everything. Be humble and willing to learn and grow. Admit when you’re wrong (I’m still learning this one), and don’t be afraid to ask for help (still learning this one too). Your colleagues and mentors are there to help you and guide you. They are the best thing that will happen to you in your career.
- Get involved. There are plenty of professional organizations all over the country, and most of them have groups for young professionals. Don’t be afraid to meet new people. This is the perfect time to expand your network. The first thing I did when I graduated was find organizations to volunteer for. From professional organizations to non-profits – I volunteered for committees, went to networking events, and more. I’ve met some great friends, colleagues and learned of additional growth opportunities.
- Work/life balance is hard. No one told me how hard this would be, nor was it ever taught. Your balance is likely different than mine, and you may take a few years before you find the balance that works for you. I’m still tweaking mine every day.
