For some people it’s what they fear most. For me, it’s where some of my best thinking occurs.
Yesterday I spoke to 30 young professionals on social media and personal branding—an attempt to advocate for using social to build pedigree which sustains and moves with them.
My speaking preparation style is counter to most (don’t practise or have a script or write out bullet points) although it works for me and manifests two very important things:
- the talk becomes more of a ‘conversation’ not a rehearsed lecture;
- forces me to construct improvised value based on the audiences needs with the stories being shared.
In this loose and open approach, new concepts are created and interesting ways of presenting or mashing up old ideas occur. Some, are remembered which then form new blog posts or strategic leads. Others are luckily recorded by the tweets of those in attendance (here are just three of my favourite takeaways from the session):
"Blogs are great for metacognition: even if no one reads them, think of them as training your brain to contribute meaningfully" @justadandak
— Shadoe Stone (@shadoesuzanna) November 18, 2014
Damn, that’s a pearl!
So many folks want popular blogs and a readership which validates their effort although in the beginning the process of finding a true authentic voice is far more important than that.
"The currency of online is attention, not clicks" – I like that. Thanks @justadandak and @WellingtonYP for the social media tips!
— Katie Kenny (@kennykatie) November 18, 2014
I like it also.
So much so I added it to the image above (image credit).
Building credible and deep relationships should be the aim not the figures (see Social Media Is Dead | The Marketeers / Advertisers Are Taking Over).
"We are our own gate keepers, we now choose what media we consume, so we must be our own curators" #WYPseries with @justadandak
— WYP (@WellingtonYP) November 18, 2014
Ah the importance of curation as an emerging skillset as a way to combat the saturation and dilution of the signal.
It’s a shame there’s such a small event and speaking scene here in New Zealand. Although come the end of February I’ll be revisiting North America for several opportunities to get back on that stage to think out loud.
Huge thanks to the Wellington Young Professionals for the opportunity to speak:
A huge thank you to DK for his engaging and thought-provoking workshop yesterday. Not only did he open our minds, challenge our understanding and perceptions of social, and dare us to be digital curators, but we’re all heading out to make moleskin pen holders, and feature them on our new blogs!
Behold the new wave of social media users.
Alexis Trevethan, Vice President, Wellington Young Professionals
