So many of us have become obsessed with connecting online with as many people as possible. There has emerged a culture of taking pride in having thousands of followers on Twitter, Linkedin or Facebook - a culture of measuring performance, based on the number of daily connections made or the amount of likes a comment or a picture gets.
And so our focus tends to lie purely on the quantity of connections we make, completely overlooking the fact that - actually - the way in which most people connect or communicate has become extremely superficial.
Have you ever received an invite to connect with someone on Linkedin?
I'm sure you have many times!
And in how many of these cases did you simply get a standard invitation?
In more than 95% of the cases the person sending the invite uses the suggested standard phrase without adapting it in any way or form to make it more personal.
Why is this? And more importantly: is this the way in which to build a personal and strong network?
In trying to find an answer to these questions, ask yourself the following questions:
Would you miss those people if they would stop posting messages?
Would you miss them if they were to disappear from your online network?
Does the content they share energize you or help you achieve your goals?
And is the way in which they communicate helping you feel good?
And likewise, obviously:
Do your posts help people grow?
Would your network miss you if you were to stop sharing things on social media?
And what then about the way in which you connect in real life?
Will people miss you when you're gone?
Have you ever reflected on any of this?
Every time somebody posts something on social media that is intended to promote oneself, it reveals a lot about that person. Could it maybe be the case that this person is desperately craving attention, or is looking for ways in which to increase his or her self-worth? Could it maybe be the case that this person experiences a void in his or her life, and is looking for a way to fill this empty space?
Do you honestly think that we are capable of building strong and sustainable relationships, if we (and that includes companies!) are driven only by the intention to share our greatest achievements?
Why and how do you think this sort of impersonal communication will help you stand out?
And does this way of promoting and sharing yourself with the world really make you happy?
Let me make a suggestion!
What if you were to change your strategy? What if you were to make a point of 'leaving a plus' every time you post something on social media or have a social interaction with someone? What if, every time you connect with someone, you were to bend your thinking from 'what can I get out of this?' to 'how can I turn this situation or conversation into something positive'?
The art of building a strong network is all about leaving a trail of positivity every single time you connect with a person. It is about doing things or conveying messages that really uplift and empower other people, about showing them you truly care.
Of course, this is not to say that this is an easy task - it requires practice, and the willingness to be vulnerable and take the risk of stumbling and falling in the process…
But once you succeed in mastering the art of leaving plusses everywhere, you will be able to build a strong bond with your tribe and establish sustainable relationships. You will be able to build strong connections with your customers and employees. You will be able to connect on every level!
And the best part of it?
You will create a field of positive energy around you that will allow you to become successful in every domain of your life… and experience true happiness!
So think about it.
Will they miss you when you're gone?
If not, take action today!
And if you would like some help on how to master this art of leaving a plus, send me an email at nathalie@arteel.eu - I will be very happy to inspire you!
Nathalie Arteel
Leading Angel at the Arteel Group
Motivational Speaker
