Are you listening?
If you’re not, now might be a good time to start. Outside of just the social media world being able to listen is a trait that has slowly been gaining ground. Gaining from a level that used to be non-existent. Unfortunately this level of listening is only expanding in a rapid way in the social media world. Looking in the live business world the true interactions face-to-face, we often jump into conversations we don’t know the full story to and end up looking like the fool.
What happened? You weren’t listening.
When it comes to a true interaction, too many times we’re caught up in updating Twitter, sending an email or whatever when someone is talking to us, or during a conference; But when have we truly just shut-up and listened?
So much talk is being revolved around engagement and interacting, even I advocate it, but without the first step: Listening, the rest means absolutely nothing; zip, zilch, zero, NA-DA!.
Listen – Live! (not like heartbeats live, but like live sports)
We will never understand to listen online if you don’t know how to listen to someone who is right in front of you. When was the last time that you fully engaged someones conversation in front of them? Acknowledging the conversation, without contributing but listening 100% to everything before responding.
Tough huh?
Give proper listening a try with someone:
- Don’t cut off someone speaking
- Engage their words, acknowledge that you’re listening
- WAIT!
- Think about what they’re saying
- Are they done?
- Okay – now you can talk
Social Listening
Once you’ve realized a bit about what listening live is doing for you, you can understand what it’s like to listen online and then engage!
As Mitch Joel (@mitchjoel) said in You’re Connected But Are You Engaging
Being connected has become a commodity. It’s cheap. It’s easy, and it’s loosing much of it’s power and intention. In a day and age where following, friending, or subscribing to anyone about anything is nothing more than a simple click away, there needs to be some time, effort, and thought put against the idea that being connected is basic and primal.
And he is 100% correct. Taking the connections we have for granted is one thing. But being able to sit around patiently and hunt through the garbage that often gets pumped out on Twitter or Facebook is tough work.
Dell and Starbucks prove excellent examples on listening, engaging and reacting in a positive way! Brian Solis gives excellent stats about this,
The analysis groups each brand with the greatest depth and breadth into a category titled “Social Media Mavens”. On average, those who were classified as “Social Media Mavens” grew 18% in revenue over the last 12 months. On the other hand, the companies who were least engaged with consumers on the social web unfortunately suffered an average of 6% decline in revenue. Here is the actual report (PDF) for reference.
Brian Solis – Active Listening It’s Overrated
When it all comes down to the end, we must realize that we cannot just sit around and wait for things to happen. Use the dozens of online tools for listening and engagement. Be a presence, be active and be responsive! It can’t hurt and if anything will do you good!
Let me know what you think! Leave a comment.
Image Credit Beatriz AG
