I posted an article the other day that obviously generated some thoughts...so I figured I would re-examine the topic. After posting "How To: Incorporating Twitter Into YOUR Business" I received this email..."Jason,
After reading your article it made me think. I am a 52 year old sales manager and I am getting a little fed up with young people getting rid of old fashion networking for this new "social media". Back when I was starting out we put our nose to the pavement and sought out valuable relationships. Now you "young guns" think that it can all be done on the internet. Not meaning to bash your article but I think this Twitter and Facebook crap is just that...CRAP!"
While confused (given that the individual found me on a BLOG), I was not up upset. Sometimes the best learning occurs when we take our views and allow others to critique them. Being an introspective person is a great foundation for continuous growth.
So what I will do now is give you, and this anonymous author, my thoughts on why I feel that this technology is so important...
Earlier today I was speaking with Donna Fisher (www.DonnaFisher.com), one of the leading experts on networking, and we were discussing the direction networking is going. Donna is an active user of Twitter, Facebook, and LinkedIn and she believes that while networking is still built around the same framework, there are numerous tools on the market that allow us to reach a community that was previously unavailable.
After thinking about Donna's point of view I decided to share some supporting thoughts of my own...
What do you mean "Hammer or Nail Gun"?
Networking is much like building a home in the fact that it takes a great deal of time and there are not many shortcuts that can be made. When building a home, time and quality have a strong correlation with one another. We must still pour the foundation and begin piecing together the frame. If it is something that we want to last, then we must give it the appropriate attention and focus it needs.
The difference in building homes now is, we are using nail guns...not hammers! Using a nail gun does not change the way a home is built or eliminate the need for a solid foundation...it just makes us more efficient at our task.
Would you say that using a nail gun takes away from the structural integrity of a home?
I don't believe so.
The key is not whether we are using a hammer or a nail gun. The most important factor is that a professional is the one placing the nails.
If we take an unprofessional person and give them a LinkedIn account then we will, more than likely, see the development of shallow relationships. That beings said, if we give that same unprofessional individual a face to face meeting, I don't think it will increase their potential for establishing long term relationships.
It is not the mode by which we make the connection...it is our purpose when pursuing the relationship!
Simply put...
If we take a genuine interest in other people and seek out ways to help them, we will be build lasting relationships!
Thoughts?
Thank you to all of you for your feedback, whether it supports my view or not! Both groups impact my growth and the growth of those around me. I hope you have a great week and feel free to offer suggestions for future YOUNG GUNS blog posts!
Jason@aplayersonline.com
3 comments:
Jason you've expressed this really well. I am 48, been in sales/service/training for a long time. The scepticism you encounter comes from doing 'the hard yards' the hard way and then having all the hype and fluff around these amazing 'new inventions'/'magic methods' telling you your methods are no longer good enough.
What these people miss out on is the passing of the baton; when they were young they were out there breaking boundaries and carving new ways. There will always be people who spruik slick answers - but the smart thing is to look for the SUBSTANCE behind hype.
I have discovered Sales 2.0 is a whole new inverted approach that reflects a huge global trend. This is hard for people with many years' experience to wrap our heads around, let alone learn and adopt the technology - which is coming at us with breakneck speed! I've identified the new approach is OPPOSITE to all our marketing and selling practices and processes; it's confronting!
Nothing replaces the work of building real relationships, and truthfully not everyone needs to change methods. But by not changing, or COMPLEMENTING these wonderfully experienced people by bringing others on board who CAN adopt new methods, our product or brand faces great RISK of being outshone by another faster moving brand.
Well said Liz. That is exactly what these tools do...they COMPLIMENT our professionalism and drive. Thank you for the feedback.
Jason, Great to read your blog after our conversation about the basics of networking and the new tools that are now available. I really love your analogy of the hammer or the nail gun.
The principles of networking as a way to connect, build relationships and create opportunities for one another is as strong as ever. Yet, our "toolbox" has expanded tremendously. And all of us are learning how to use these tools to support the "true spirit of networking".
The thing is there's no way to know and experience the new tools until you give them "a try". But once you've mastered the "nail gun" it's hard to imagine not having that tool available (for certain jobs).
I agree with what you say - that if our focus is to build relationships and be of value then we will figure out how to do that with all the new tools.
Thank you for generating an interesting conversation!
Post a Comment