Social Media

Here are some notes that a friend of mine, Shante- the Mona Vie Web Czar, recently took at a social media seminar.

Here are a few notes from my most recent social media seminar.

What is Social Media?
• New generation of tools where content is created and driven by a huge number of contributors
• About relationship building
• More back and forth communication, less forced messaging
• Values longer standing relationships
• Hybrid of communications, media relations and community relations
• Also referred to as direct media (person to person)

Tools - most are free...time is not
• Tools are less important than how you use them and the relationships you build
• Online and offline integration is key
• Focus on the basics first!
• Don’t get overwhelmed, focus on what you’re good at
• Earlier you get started, the better as you accumulate contacts and build relationships over time
• It’s about rapid response and sharing of information
• Blog is a conversation
• Website is a monologue
• Each serve a purpose
• Comments are currency
• Start to comment and others will comment back
• Build relationships

Where Americans spend their time: 44% TV; 37% Internet; 15% Newspaper and Radio

Forget surfing, what are the “hubs”
1. Google
2. Facebook
3. YouTube

Interacting on Social Media platforms
• Similar rules of a backyard BBQ
• Authenticity beats polish
• If you can’t say it person to person, don’t post it online
• Stop selling
• Stop spamming (it’s selling)
• Act transparently
• Leave footprint of deleted comments, explain why you are deleting
• Elevate the discussion
• Do not attack
• Present a voice
• Be humanizing
• Do not alienate (it will go viral)

Know your audience – follow these steps to elevate the conversation
1. Pay attention to what they’re saying
2. Comment
3. Compliment
4. Ask questions
Then start with #1 again…


Thanks @monavie

CEO Coaching Lesson: The Conference Room

The CEO of a large financial services company used to hold meetings of his leadership team twice a week. He held them in a small conference room on the third floor of their San Francisco headquarters. The room was too small for the 14 participants to fit in comfortably. Ironically, there was a much larger conference room on the same floor near the CEO’s office.

One day, a member of the team asked the CEO, “Bruce, why do you continue to cram us into this conference room twice a week. Why don’t we move the meeting to the bigger conference room down the hall?”

Bruce replied, “This is a high profile conference room. A lot of people walk by. I want them to see who’s in charge and that we’re working together.

If nothing else comes out of these meetings, that will be enough.”

Brilliant, the team member thought to himself. “Thanks,” he said to the CEO. “I get it now.”

Related blog: “Executive Leadership Coaching“

Originally posted at http://ow.ly/SJ47

Are Your Poor Listening Skills Hurting Your Career?

Posted on January 26th, 2010 by Keith Ferrazzi ( Original Link Below)
Failing to listen well is rude. I don't care whether you're talking to the Queen of England or your intern. It very loudly communicates, Frankly my dear, I don't give a damn. And as a master relationship builder, it's your job to care.

Ready to assess how well you listen? My colleague Dr. Mark Goulston has four categories for how we listen, the Four R’s: removed, reactive, responsible, and receptive listening.

Here's the breakdown:

1. Removed listening is just what it sounds like: removed. It’s the kind of listening you do when you’re actually engaged in something else, like using your BlackBerry. You may parrot back what I’ve said, but you aren’t really paying attention. You’re mind is elsewhere and you risk letting me feel like I’m being ignored or like what I say doesn’t mean anything to you. It’s a lot like talking over someone else’s words in a conversation—but in this case you’re “listening over” my words.

2. With reactive listening, you’re being somewhat more attentive than removed, but still not wholly attentive. If I ask you a question, you reply with a straightforward answer but not a lot of thought. You’ve heard me, but you aren’t really mulling over what I’ve said. Reactive listening takes away from the value of our conversation.

3. You engage in responsible listening when you not only react to what I have said but reply with further action or elaboration. Responsible listening is the basis of all good conversations. It’s the equivalent of talking with someone, as opposed to talking at them or over them.

4. Receptive listening is the deepest form of listening. With this kind of listening, you let me know that you empathize fully with what I have to say, and are trying to feel what I am feeling. This is the level of listening we all want to achieve in sparring. Receptive listening conveys generosity and respect.

Relationship masters should spend most of their time being responsible and receptive listeners and a lot less time being removed or reactive listeners.

Feel like you don’t have enough time to be responsible or receptive?

Then a) consider having the conversation later, b) explaining the situation and asking the person to bottom-line it for you, or c) realize how much time you’ll save in the long run by listening carefully the first time around and exercise some patience.

I’ll admit it: I’ve been called out for poor listening a few times in my life. (OK, maybe more than a few.) That’s why I always encourage my employees to tell me when I'm not in the zone. I so appreciate the opportunity to correct my behavior immediately.

Has someone called you out recently for “removed listening”? How did you react?



Are Your Poor Listening Skills Hurting Your Career?

Banish Approach Anxiety and Make the Sale!

Here is an article I read this morning on Keith Ferrazzi's Blog
Posted on January 12th, 2010 by Sara Grace
The hardest challenge is to be yourself in a world where everyone is trying to make you be somebody else. - e. e. cummings.

I don’t care how good you are: If you’re in sales, you struggle with approach anxiety. There's been a time where you've psyched yourself out of a successful meeting because of self-doubt.

And we’re all in sales, whether you’re selling paperclips, companies, or ideas. Are you dating? You’re in sales too!
Here’s a five minute mental routine that you can use before calls, meetings, networking events, and presentations to calm your anxiety, get yourself grounded and ready to be your best self.

1. Create an authentic environment around you. How? Take a deep breath. Relax. Prepare to let the other person see who you are and what you have to offer—your concern, your interest, your passion, your intelligence, your skill. Listen to that authentic inner voice. Meditate for several minutes or just take a few deep breaths.

2. Suspend your prejudice. This is a mindset shift. Prepare to walk into every situation with as few assumptions as possible. Look for ways to express your interest in and concern for the other person. It means opening your mind to the possibility that the person or people you’re meeting are individuals you could care about.

3. Project the positive. Once you’ve found your inner voice and know you’re speaking authentically, from there it’s a simple step to projecting positive feelings onto other people—the kinds of feelings that will help to bridge the gap between you and establish a welcoming, safe environment for the other person. Expect the best!

Take five minutes to walk through these three steps before your meeting or event. Bring a cheat sheet if it helps!

CES 2010: Laser Pico Projector, Netbook E-Reader Combo - Video - Wired

The small laser Pico projectore at the front half of this video is awesome. Think of the possibilities these Pico projectors will offer us. The last half of the video is lame, in my opinion. Perhaps you'll disagree.

CES 2010: Laser Pico Projector, Netbook E-Reader Combo - Video - Wired

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The Fine Art of Negotiation

I just found this video on negotiation and thought you all might enjoy it. Let me know what you think.