Engagement: You Only Get One Chance

Robert Fransgaard @fransgaard re-tweeted:

@womenintech : Women must ‘build their brand and network’ to get top job http://bit.ly/ifzznl ” #in

- TO WHICH Robert commented: this made me think a bit globally:)

In LinkedIn KdL Web2.0 Social Media Group, our Fabiola Vicenova @fabi_BG started the following discussion:

Networking: are there any differences between the people (networkers) from the different countries or cultures? Are some of them more reliable and some less or it is more or less individual feature?

To which I (@osakasaul) commented:

I think, yes, there are differences by nationality. Long ago, you shared with us how in Eastern Europe, the kind of self-introduction, or request to join/add or even comment might be perceived as obtrusive – while for Americans/Canadians and most of the Western EU people I know, as long as we are not clearly trying to sell something, such a contact is welcomed more often than it is not. Eastern Europeans will change their stance (assuming you are correct, and they are more distrustful of new “friends” who may approach them), and quickly, just as soon as they find it rewarding to grow their personal and business networks. Clearly, you are finding it rewarding, and its great to see the evidence of this grow, Fabiola!

CREDIT: Beth Kanter @kanter

To me, what I find fascinating about networking differences is not nationality-based, but rather, how people treat new acquaintances radically differently – based solely on the circumstances of how they met. An example is how a couple people have have appointments to speak (phone or SKYPE) with me at a designated time and either forgot or canceled their consultation with me without notice; in “real life,” I am not treated this way, but with social media-met people, sometimes. One the other hand, had I not decided to make a first move, introduce myself and actually engage, or garner the interest, of people like Gregory Viloria, Robert Fransgaard, Megumi Oyanagi, Ian S. Hardy, Arthur Partridge, or you, Fabiola, we would not know each other.

“You only have one chance to make a first impression,” we say in the U.S. So true, right? I hope that I make a good impression on people, and though I did not actually think that I am new at this, I think that with all the SNS use I get, I may be improving or refining my approach at engaging people.

Besides all I can learn from people, and even build true friendships, maybe any of the improvements in engagement will also be materialized in more business coming my way as well.

About Saul Fleischman

Working with social web apps developers on getting things made: my role tends to be functionality ideation, user experience, and also, marketing communications and community development.

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