I have given up using Facebook until June 1st because I have grown tired of the whiny, condescending tone of many people who either choose to kiss each others butt, speak in vague ways, or make comments that stir up controversy.
I call the type of comments I see lately on Facebook FDR - Facebook Displays of Regression.
If you or are your staff do any of the following, you probably are committing FDR's
- Making comments about how you are mad at "someone", but not mentioning the person by name, therefore arising suspicion in everyone.
- Making claims that you were wronged by "someone" you have done business with, but not being clear on who exactly of the many people you do business with has done you wrong, therefore arising suspicion in everyone you have done business with.
- Complaining about some government official, business, or other entity in a public forum without any basis or claim, just to participate in the complaint.
- Giving credit where credit isn't do to pander and panhandle as a sycophant to get the supposed support of someone who you think has good connections
If you want to do serious business on the internet, I suggest you avoid FDR's entirely, or risk being looked at as someone who is just a perennial malcontent.
"Apple CEO Steve Jobs is well known for his electrifying presentations. Communications coach Carmine Gallo discusses the various techniques Jobs uses to captivate and inspire his audience -- techniques that can easily be applied to your next presentation."
With all of the ways to communicate, the type of person you are as a communicator and can impact how successful you are at growing your network.
What grade would you give yourself? Let's look at the different type of networkers according to this scale...
FF - Frightened Freeloader - the FF networker meets as many people as can as much as they can, collects business cards, makes promises, yet fails to make any or many strong relationships. They often are afraid of any competitor coming in to take what limited business they have and have a scarcity mentality
DD - Doutbful Dominator - the DD networker doubts their own abilities, but finds it necessary to dominate every conversation they are involved in. They don't find time for others but always seem to dominate the circles they are in
CC - Consistent Connector - the CC understands the value of connecting, but doesn't follow up quite enough to make network effective. However, they do spend a great deal of time out in public and on the scene so people know who they are.
BB - The Brave Businessperson - the BB uses tools like LinkedIn, Twitter and Facebook to find others who have unique complementary skills and abilities, and seeks contact in between network events. They reach out to competitors to establish rapport and referrals. They realize not every contact they meet is worth following up on.
AA - The Alliance Athlete - the AA does everything the BB does, but does it better. They form strategic alliances with competitors, follow through on every person they meet, subtracts contacts with those that aren't a good fit, and strengthens contacts with the core people they already have a relationship with.
Where do you fit on this spectrum? What would you add to these descriptors?
Pinterest is the newest social media site that allows you to pin pictures of items, people, and products to create links to them in a visual way.
From an HR perspective, Pinterest could be used to
1. Promote classes you are offering
2. Promote the names of the people who work for you
3. Share photos of the products or services you offer, making it easier for your people to share them with others
There are many other uses of Pinterest, but from my initial studies, it seems like a platform that would be of value to most people to explore.
How do people know whether or not they should frequent your business? Do you have a good website? Do you advertise?
From an HR perspective, some people need to hear you in action or see you live in order to get a better feel for whether or not they will want to work with you or for you.
Tune in to an episode of Capital District Business Profiles, which debuts this coming Monday at 7:30pm (and in February will also air Wednesday mornings at 10am) to check out some of the local businesses that may be offering opportunities for doing business or potential job opportunities in the future.
On Capital District Business Profiles, we will be interviewing local business owners to find out more about their business and how they go about doing what they do.
I've spoken for years with friends about wanting to invent a concept called You're Welcome Notes. My friends have said although it sounds like a great idea, they wonder where the endless cycle of Thank You and You're Welcome will end.
"Do you have to send a Thank You card for receiving a You're Welcome note?" is one of their questions. My response is always no, that is a little tacky, but writing to your friends and customers is always a good idea if you want to keep a continuing conversation going.
I did a Google search on You're Welcome Notes this morning and all that came up was a Facebook page that someone came up with stating that "You're Welcome Notes are the greatest demonstration of the welcomeness of the other person's previous thankfulness"
I look at You're Welcome Notes as a great opportunity to keep in touch with people after the holidays have ended, or after you've received a Thank You Note.
Here's a situation where you can see how valuable a You're Welcome Note could be in a business situation...
You sell a product or service to someone and offer them a great experience. They send you a Thank You note thanking you for the great service rendered, and expressing gratitude for all that you did for them. A few days or a short time after, follow up that note with a short letter (or You're Welcome note) checking in with them on their experience, and thanking them for their appreciation of your work.
I have spent the last 4 months participating in an internship with Braathe Enterprises and Saratogacollege.com. I happened upon it while searching internship opportunities online. I don't think I could have found a better company to learn and develop my professional skills and all by accident. On a whim, I contacted Robert Braathe and so began my journey from student to intern began.
During my very first conversation with Robert, I knew that I would gain so much from his expertise and professional experience. His knowledge from running his own company and working for large corporations is invaluable and span from social media to traditional marketing techniques and far beyond. As a mentor Robert is support and pushing you to pursue and find as much information as you can. He frequently forward information, stories or websites of interest. I felt like my development was always top of mind.
The benefits of an internship with Braathe Enterprises include unlimited knowledge, weekly conference calls, real professional assignments, and access to a free online course through saratogacollege.com. Besides all the benefits listed above, I was impressed with my first assignment. I was asked to compile a list of 6 or 7 objectives I would like to explore during my internship. It's unusual to be able to almost dictate the content and direction. I was almost curious in a way to see what and how my list would play into my 4-months. And sure enough we went through each and every item on my list and I had the chance to explore, ask questions, and complete an assign with real-world application. I wasn't forced to fit into a mold and go through the motions....I learned about things I was interested in knowing. That for me made all the difference.
Saratogacollege.com added a unique element to my internship. I was able to have access to an online course at no charge to me. I also had access to a free online textbook. I was able to locate in formation at anytime and to challenge myself with the course work. We all know how expensive college course can be, what a fantastic benefit to have provided to me. I am grateful for the opportunity to take an additional class.
This on my very last day as an intern find myself elated to have completed an internship in a professional arena and be successful, and even more grateful for the opportunity. I very much look forward to taking the skills and knowledge I attained while interning with Braathe Enterprises and Saratogacollege.com and applying it to my next journey.
As children, those who celebrate Christmas are told to be nice and good and to write to Santa with what they want for Christmas. As adults, I think we could all take our parents' advice and do the same thing when it comes to asking for what we want from our boss, co-workers, friends, or colleagues.
Here is a "letter to Santa" I put out last week on my Facebook page as kind of a joke but half-serious as I want to meet someone this holidays season:
Dear Santa,
I'd like a girlfriend this Christmas who is witty, pretty and single. I've been good this year and haven't asked you for anything for Christmas in 30 years.
Love, Robert
To the point, direct, and a little silly, this email netted many responses and people coming out of the woodwork to assist me in my quest. Perhaps by Christmas "Santa" will bring me what I want!
Think about something you've wanted for work, yourself, or your business. Find a funny way to get it out there, or be direct and ask for what you want. It may work wonders!
After a recent shopping experience where I felt like I was treated like a criminal for going in for a price adjustment, I have almost completely abandoned traditional shopping entirely. I've grown tired of the lack of care of the management, the ambivalence and/or ignorance of the staff, and the general lack of care for the customer by many traditional retailers.
Why am I so jaded? It could be because I worked in retail management and my standards are higher than those I encounter today. Maybe it is also an HR issue that can possibly save retail in its traditional form.
The next time a customer walks in your door and no one greets them from your team, someone needs to pay on your staff. I don't care how busy you are, but when a customer or potential customer walks in and no one meets them within the first 30-60 seconds (sometimes less), you've lost that customer.
The next time a customer walks in for a price adjustment on an item that went on sale, don't treat them like a criminal because you are having a bad day at the office.
For now, until someone convinces me otherwise, I'm taking my business online and to the retail businesses that are friendly consistently.
We have already awarded two 12 week online interactive business classes to two Capital Region residents seeking to take the next step in their career, whether it be start a business, find a new job or career, or learn something new to help them in their existing situation.
We are delighted to be offering these free courses for 12 lucky recipients this holiday season in the spirit of workforce development, business startup incubation, and career training for those who have been let go or downsized.
To enter for a spot in the 12 Classes of Christmas contest, send an email to info@saratogacollege.com with your request for a free course, why you want to take the course, and what you hope to learn as a result of it. The courses included Modern Marketing Methods, Exceptional Human Resources and Entrepreneurship, among others.
The first 12 submissions will very likely also be the 12 recipients (the first two were inspiring people so we selected them right away), so get in your email request today!
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