Activity is not productivity – we all know that.
But why do we keep engaging in activities that are not productive?
One answer: Simply because it is easy to engage in activities that are not productive.
This is true especially when it comes to activities that are geared towards building engagement with the other person.
Sometimes, it is easy to think you are engaged when you are not even on the other person’s radar.
Here is the basic rule:
When you are engaging with your network (online or offline) who you are AND the nature and level of conversations you have will influence your level of your engagement with the other person.
The diagram above shows ONE framework that explains this relationship.
As you can see, the need for creativity goes up significantly when you need higher levels of engagement
Here are the levels:
- A. Mindless Chatter: This is basically saying whatever comes to your mind and sometimes you might get a reply (the other person may also be bored, right?) and you might think there is engagement.
- B. Inconsequential Topics: These are like ice-breakers. After you break the ice, you have to move on but many people are happy to continue those conversations forever and think they are engaged.
- C. Genuine, Caring and Thoughtful Conversations: You are genuine, caring and thoughtful about those topics you are discussing. That comes across and this is like the entry point to getting the other person engaged at a higher level. When I say this is an “entry ticket,” it means there is more work to be done. It’s not over.
- D. Immediate Relevance: From here on, you always include the previous section starting from C (Genuine, Caring and Thoughtful) as a given. You talk about things that are of immediate relevance to the other person. So you become a positive possibility for the other person right NOW.
- E. Future Relevance: You start engaging in conversations that are of immediate and future relevance to the other person. You show that you are a positive possibility for the other person now and in the future.
- F. Who You Are: This is where your personal brand kicks in. You not only show that you are a positive possibility in the immediate and future concerns of the other person in your conversations but also by showing “who you are.” The other person will make an assessment on the level of engagement based on both – what you are saying and who you are.
Think about all your conversations in the last thirty days. Where do you slot them? Are they in the right slot to elicit the right level of engagement?
If not, start unlocking your creativity to engage in higher-level conversations that will automatically lead to higher levels of engagement.
A quick note on Twitter: I included a reference to Twitter because you have an opportunity to initiate conversations with people that are loosely connected to you (meaning you are following them and they are not following you). It is easy to have a LOT of conversations on Twitter that are at best leading to moderate levels of engagement. You could, if you wish THINK and take these conversations to the next level by being thoughtful and creative. It’s your choice.
About the Author: Rajesh Setty is an entrepreneur, author and speaker based in Silicon Valley. Rajesh maintains a blog at Life Beyond Code. You can also find him on Twitter at @UpbeatNow.
View Comments (36)
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
1 2 3 … 5 Next »I think you've summarised the topic pretty well, Rajesh.
Personally, I don't get involved in Twitter conversations--it's just not worth the effort for me, and I don't want to waste people's time.
If I have an idea and want to transmit it to others, my blog is there, eager for me to write in it.
I know everyone's in love with Twitter right now, but as much as I've tried, I still haven't found it useful. I'd much rather read people's blogs and get the whole idea than think a fortune-cookie snippet is enough. Important messages have nuances that take more than 140 characters to transmit.
What do others think about my Twitter reluctance? Am I the only one?
Miserere,
Thank you for the comments.
Twitter can be a great starting point for conversations. There are people who have found a way to elevate the level of conversations right on Twitter but for most others, it can work great as a supplement to your blog and other online strategies.
I was reluctant to get into Twitter for a long time but it all changed during late last year. Please take a look at this short video that explains it all.
http://www.lifebeyondcode.com/2009/06/21/there-is-a-book-in-your-heart/
Have a great day.
Best,
Raj
Overall this is a useful set of distinctions. Certainly way too often we tend to spend our online and in-person conversations in the idle and inconsequential.
On the other hand, mindless chatter can in fact be who I am in a given moment. Part of who I authentically am is quite ordinary. I chat idly with my girlfriend about work sometimes just to connect after a long day. Sometimes I chat idly on Twitter to compensate for feeling lonely when working alone all day. These are a part of who I am.
For years I pursued only the "deep" and "creative" and found that I had rejected the ordinary. Both the ordinary and extraordinary are part of a full, authentic, creative life.
I'd also say that my personal brand can never be who I am by definition. A personal brand is one's outward appearance to others, usually carefully constructed to appear authentic and consistent, and always oriented towards selling. People are multifaceted and complex, and most of what we do does not in fact enter the marketplace at all. Thus our personal brands--no matter how authentic--will always be a reduction of our full creative selves.
I'd also add that who we truly are is deeply mysterious, cannot be bought or sold, and depends on no conditions whatsoever. From this mysterious ground of being all creativity arises....
Duff,
Good comments.
I agree with you that Personal Brand NOT equal to "who you are." I am thinking that your personal brand will be greatly influenced by who you are.
When it comes to online conversations, though, others will never be able to know "who you are" but they will surely know your personal brand.
My $.02 of course.
Best,
Raj
For some the "who they are" is the mindless chatter they produce, and some are pretty engaged in producing all that chatter :)
Anyway.. I haven't been engaged in Twitter conversations that much, but in a sense blog commenting has the same elements, not as fast paced of course, but anyway, and at best the "conversations" in the comments are enhance an good article to a whole new level.
Speaking of comments - Raj, you show exactly how to get involved in the conversation after a guest post, which is great and certainly kicks your "personal brand" even more into this. Too many guest bloggers don't follow up on their post in the other blog(s), oddly enough.
Thank you Zemalf.
Unfortunately, many who are engaged in "mindless chatter" don't know (or don't want to admit) they are engaged in "mindless chatter." It is low-cost to engage in "mindless chatter" and as long as they are getting responses for this, it is easy to assume that this must be "working."
Have a great day.
Best,
Raj
But given the volume of conversations taking place in the Twitterspere, wouldn't those types of conversation benefit from more time and thought being put into them?
I have less time for people who treat their 140 characters as a frivolous undertaking and am more interested in people who try to add real value to the debate in that tiny window.
Does that make sense?
Yes Daniel.. it makes a lot of sense. Twitter is a place where there is a low barrier to entry to start conversations.
Soon, these conversations can be taken to the next level even on Twitter.
The "noise" on Twitter is what makes the "signal" stand out even stronger :)
Best,
Raj
Dear Rajesh,
I like your thoughts and creativity. However, I wonder why "Who you are" is at the final step or level?
Is it not late in the reality? Also, is it too generic?
Could it be ..
"(Perceived) Who you are" -- at the beginning level?
and
"(Experienced) Who you are" -- at the final step as what you present?
Warm Regards,
Chada W.
Hi Chada,
That's a very good question.
"Who you are" is always present in all levels. This is where it makes a difference in the end:
Imagine there are two people that you are conversing with. They have everything in common until stage 5 - meaning they are both thoughtful, caring and are conversing with you in a way that you make an assessment that they are relevant to you immediately and in the future. At that time, "who they are" is like the tie-breaker. The person has a better identity in the marketplace wil have a bigger influence and possibly a higher level of engagement.
Have a great evening.
Best,
Raj