3 Ways To Keep Up with the Social Media ‘Joneses’
What do you mean you had time to read The Economist cover to cover – don’t you have a job to do??! Kelly Barner advises how you can keep up with the Social Media ‘Joneses’.
We all know one… that person in your network that not only mysteriously has the time to think, read, discuss and be oh-so-intellectual about the day’s leading topics, they also broadcast that fact everywhere. Here are some sample ‘shares’ to give you an idea:
“Really enjoyed this article the third time I read it in this week’s issue of the Economist”
“Back from our week-long innovation retreat / chakra cleansing with a revised vision for procurement”
“Pleased to share volume 4 of my treatise: ‘Reflections on the Meaning of Corporate Procurement’”
Honestly. Don’t these people have real jobs? After reading status updates like these, it’s hard not to feel horribly overwhelmed. Let’s face it – the rest of us are scrambling from top priority to top priority. We’re trying to cover the fundamentals while also finding the time to look for opportunities to create additional value.
Here’s the thing: just as people gild their personal experiences on social media to make it look like they have the ‘perfect’ life, they are tempted to do the same at work. Although you may feel a combination of stress and envy in response to their abundant discretionary time, you can convert that energy into something that is not only productive, but realistic to achieve.
Procurement has long been hesitant to engage on social media (eek! a supplier might be looking!!), but the tide is beginning to turn. Here are some suggestions for how to keep up with the ‘Joneses’ without actually becoming them.
Read One New Thing Every Day (Max investment: 15 minutes)
There is so much content published on a daily basis that it may seem just as easy to let it all float by as to pick something to read. And yet… not reading anything is a huge mistake. Don’t think too hard about your selection – it is wasted time. You’re better off reading something mediocre and moving on than making it an hour long task. There is something to be gained from every piece of content – even if it is so complex or boring that your mind wanders to other topics. Let it go! Stepping away from project-related tasks and phone calls may be just the distance you need to foster a great idea.
Post a Comment (Max investment: 30 minutes)
Not everyone is a writer – and not everyone who writes should. That said, there is just as much value to be realised in commenting on or challenging other people’s work as there is in publishing your own thoughts. If you’ve already invested the time to read something, why not make a comment? We are all made better when we are challenged, and sometimes all it takes to get the conversation going is the first comment. You’ll find that articulating your point of view helps you formalise your thoughts in a way that just reacting in your mind doesn’t.
Host a Lunch & Learn
One of the things we have to give procurement credit for is the abundance of high quality – free access – webinars and podcasts. If you come across one that is relevant to your team, reserve a conference room and invite others to join you. If it is during lunch, encourage people to bring something to eat. If not, grab coffee or see if the company will spring for bagels (people love bagels…) The resulting conversation will move everyone forward and add to the shared knowledge base of the team.
The key thing to keep in mind is that you can learn and grow without shoving it in other people’s faces. If you’re focused on using that investment of time to put yourself above other people, you’re missing the whole point of building virtual community and advancing professional development. Plus, we all know the unspoken reality… the more showy people are about their own accomplishments, the more likely they are to be updating their status from their parents’ basement.
