“Electronic tools are incredible. They can enhance communications, build relationships, and increase time effectiveness. Electronic tools can also replace true communication with information overload, damage relationships, and overwhelm our day.
Electronic tools are vital and valuable, but they can also become vampires sucking our vital time and energy.
Is it time you put them down or put on the screen saver and saved yourself?
Arianna Huffington is the founder of the online news site The Huffington Post. Last fall she was a speaker at the International Women in Digital Media Summit in my home region. She’s made millions with her wildly popular web site. It’s driven by a 24 hour instant news cycle and the immediacy of social media.
Arianna spoke of how she had to learn a very tough lesson on turning off her Blackberry and getting more sleep. “Three years ago, I fainted from exhaustion while at my desk. I broke my cheekbone and required stitches to my eye,” she related in her presentation. This sounds a lot like someone needing to survive a heart attack in order to change his or her lifestyle. We can either change or be changed.
She learned from this painful lesson to master her technology and regain control of her time and life. She’s no longer a slave to the messages, calls, and e-mails that create “a false sense of urgency in our lives.” Here’s her best piece of advice: “don’t live your life from your inbox. If you do, you’re just at the mercy of whatever’s coming at you.”
Arianna became a self-described sleep evangelist. She found her creativity, pro-activity, and wisdom increased. She now has staff nap rooms in her New York City newsroom.
I heartily agree on both counts. I used to think I was getting more done by cutting back on sleep and racing through jam-packed days. I’ve found that 7 – 7.5 hours sleep, 30 minute power-nap, (and morning aerobic exercise) does wonders for my energy and mental capacity.
And it’s way too easy to allow our technologies to take over our lives. Highly effective leaders manage IT tools to leverage their effectiveness and improve their communications. They don’t let the tools manage them.
So, our little world is soon to go out with a whimper (or a bang, it isn’t particularly clear). We’ve murdered our last polar bear, and watched our last season of Christmas Coca Cola adverts. In a year promising the return of the devil and the landing of UFOs, avoid mountainous France, any Procter & Gamble Headquarters (you can never be too careful), and watch as, if nothing else, London’s big year guides us towards Armageddon with a drizzle of patriotic fervor.
Victoria Yates
"Can't we settle this over a nice game of wiff-waff?"
The UK continues to strengthen its friendship with Europe
Cameron pledges to ensure the success of the Olympics any way he can
I have spent much of today working on materials for two presentations I have to give in February at the University of Leeds, in my Visiting Professor role. Both include thoughts on social media.
As often said in these pages, it’s pretty hard to be considered a leader these days if you don’t understand what is going on in the digital / social world.
“Social media is now an essential component of doing business. It’s important for marketers to keep up with the ever-changing social media landscape so they can align their strategies and achieve the results they’re looking for. Here’s a list (in alphabetical order) of some great social media blogs to read in 2012. They all have unique voices that cover a wide range of social-media-related topics, news, and trends. From tips to tactics to measurement, there’s something for everybody.
1. The Brand Builder (Olivier Blanchard): For businesses looking to dive deep into social media discussion, check out Olivier’s rich insights. He blogs about building strong brands through passion, innovation, creativity, and common sense.
2. Brass Tack Thinking (Amber Naslund): Amber was the VP of Social Strategy for Radian6, a social media monitoring and engagement platform. She blogs about social media strategies for business, and offers insights into what works and what doesn’t.
3. Conversation Agent (Valeria Maltoni): Valeria is a fresh voice in strategy with 20 years of real-world business experience, 10 of which have been spent online. Her articles are about connecting ideas and people, and how talk can change our lives.
4. Convince and Convert (Jay Baer): Jay writes about social media strategy and works with companies to build integrated, measurable social and content programs.
5. CopyBlogger (Brian Clark): Ranked as a top marketing blog, Brian and his team help businesses persuade in a 2.0 world. Their posts provide advice and solutions that empower people to successfully grow their businesses through social media and online marketing.”
All leaders today need to understand the digital social universe. So here is a fascinating look at what’s going on from http://www.socialnomics.net/
Part of the world’s most watched Social Media video series; “Social Media Revolution” by Erik Qualman.
Based on #1 International Best Selling Book Socialnomics by Erik Qualman. This is a shorter version that includes new social media statistics for 2011.
Today is Student’s Day in Russia (Saint Tatiana’s Day, the patroness of students).
Examinations in Russia’s higher schools start at the beginning of the year and last until January 24. So the 25th. tends to be a happy day, as students across the country celebrate. They’ll join friends at college, drink with lecturers, sing songs and generally enjoy life.
Traditionally, Moscow State University is the centre of the festivities, as the 25th. is also the birthday of the University – the largest, oldest and most prestigious college in the country, and one of the world’s top seats of learning.
International Student’s Day is November 17th, although very few countries make a big deal of it (and even fewer have it as a holiday).
I always find it interesting (and a bit depressing) that countries which are “developing” take education much more seriously than we in the West, who seem to take it for granted. Everyone seems to just assume that education and university life is there for all – yet few stop and think about its real value, or even more see it as something to be celebrated.
We see this first hand in our work with primary education in Cambodia, where students, parents and grandparents view education as an essential route to growth and prosperity, and treat it very seriously as a result. I guess it’s only when you don’t have access to something that you truly appreciate it.
There is a movement of student organizations to make something more of the 17th via the UN. But unless we all think education is more than something to be taken for granted, I doubt it will get off the ground.
Pity.
Wish I was in Moscow today to see students celebrating education on St Tatiana’s Day.
Here’s a little more on the day from the Ruslanguage web site
“Despise the frost and the snow, January is a month full of joyful evens in Russia. After New Year, Christmas and the Orthodox New Year (according to the Julian Calendar), there is still another day that many are awaiting for: January 25th, Татьянин День (Tatiana’s Day) or Students Day.
It might seem strange to associate a roman catholic saint and martyr from the 3rd century with a happy and noisy feast with drunk students strolling around the city. AsА.П. Чехов (Chekhov) wrote in 1885 about Tatiana’s Day:
“В этом году выпили всё, кроме Москва-реки, и то благодаря тому, что замёрзла…” (This year everything was drunk, except the water from the Moscow river, and only because it was frozen.)
Actually, the reason is very simple. On January 25th (Gregorian calendar) 1755,императрица Елизавета (Empress Elizabeth of Russia) signed a decree for the establishment of the 1st Russian university, under the care of Иван Шувалов (Ivan Shuvalov). First minister of Education in Russia, Shuvalov was a very well educated man who wanted all Russians to have a better education. The decree was signed on the name day of his mother, Tatiana, to whom he said:“дарю тебе университет” (“I give you a university”) as a present.
So that day became the official University day, which was called in those days, День Московского университета (the Day of the Moscow University). At first, it was only celebrated in Moscow with a brief ceremony in the building of the University followed by noisy and well washed down parties all over the city.
Later on, in 1791, Храм мученицы Татианы при МГУ (the Church of Saint Tatiana) was built on the old campus. The Russian Orthodox Church declared Saint Tatiana saints of all students and Tatiana’s Day became celebrated as День российского студенчества (Russian students Day).
Today, nothing has changed. After months of hard learning, revising and exams, students take the most they can from that day of freedom. Night clubs and restaurants are organising special parties. So if you want to know what a real student feast is, make sure to be in Russia on Tatiana’s Day.”
Whether you believe in horoscopes or not, it was Louis Pasteur who said “Chance favours the prepared mind”.
So if you are doing business in Asia, and especially the Chinese markets, you had better respect how millions of people see 2012 – the Year of the Black Water Dragon.
Chinese astrology has a 12-year cycle of animals, and 2012 is the year of the Dragon. There is also a cycle of five Elements – Metal, Water, Wood, Fire and Earth. So 2012 is the Year of the “Black Water Dragon” as the color of water is associated with the color black.
Chinese dragons, unlike western varieties, traditionally symbolise positive, potent and auspicious powers, particularly control over water, rainfall, hurricane, and floods. The dragon is a symbol of power, strength, and good luck. Historically, the Emperor usually used the dragon as a symbol of his imperial power.
So, what does 2012 have in store?
Those born in the Year of the Dragon can look forward to a year of flamboyance, new beginnings, and good fortune. For those seeking to start a new business, the Year of the Dragon will be a good time to do so. And whilst dragons are associated with fire, for the year of 2012, being near water will be a good thing as a sign of balance.
In these challenging economic times, and with everyone’s eyes focused on the Asian growth engine, a little help from the Dragon might go a long way
Twitter isn’t just a fun way to keep in touch with friends and follow your favorite celebrities; it’s also an incredibly valuable tool for marketing, branding, customer service, and business education.
These days, few big businesses operate without a Twitter presence, and more and more business gurus, CEOs, and teachers are flocking to the site to share their expertise and inspiration with young professionals like yourself.
One of the best ways to connect with these experts and other businesspeople is through Twitter chats, which are often held weekly and cover a wide range of topics.
Whether you’re new to Twitter chats or just want to expand your horizons, here are some of the best business-related Twitter chats in which you can participate. (Note: all times Eastern.)
BUSINESS
Find great advice and inspiration in these business chats.
#bizforumThis chat is a great way to keep up with issues pertinent to the business world today, with a new trending topic featured each week. Simply sign on to Twitter at 8 p.m. on Wednesdays to take part.
#HBRchatWhere better to learn about the latest in business than from the Harvard Business Review? Join the conversation Thursdays at 1 p.m. or check out their archive of past chats.
#usguyschatThis chat touches on a wide range of topics, including social media, marketing, advertising, technology, and PR. As such, it’s a great starting place for learning about these topics and others, and because it’s an ongoing chat you can chime in at any time.
#MoneychatNeed a little guidance when it comes to managing your finances? This chat covers both personal and business finance issues, helping you start off your career on the right foot.
Here’s another great set of ideas from Online MBA.
“Whether we realize it or not, we use persuasive techniques every day to get the things we want by influencing others. While it may seem like some people are born to charm their way through life, persuading others with an enviable ease, the whole shebang at its heart is a science — something that anyone can learn to master with enough practice.
If you’re looking to brush up your persuasion skills, whether to get your foot in the door at a business, sell a product, or even get a promotion, here are some tricks and tips that can help give you that desirable silver tongue. Backed up by loads of social science research, these techniques are sure to give you an edge in any negotiation or debate.
Be the first to give Reciprocity is a powerful force in our society and one that can be used to sway others. Doing a favor for someone you want to persuade can help to put them in your debt, and may make them more willing to help you out in the future. One study found that waiters who gave diners mints before they placed the bill on the table got consistently more tips than those who didn’t.
Admit your weaknesses When others see you as being more trustworthy, they’ll be much more likely to go along with what you’re trying to persuade them to do, whether it’s hire you or buy what you’re selling. It may sound counterintuitive, but studies have confirmed the validity of admitting weakness. One such study sent out identical resumes with different cover letters, with one of the letters admitting a weakness. The honest cover letter-resume combo received many more call backs than the other which focused only on the positives.
Highlight not only what others have to gain, but also what they have to lose Most people who are looking for a job highlight only what employers have to gain by hiring them, but research supports the importance of also pointing out what others stand to lose in a deal. Potential losses actually create a bigger impact than potential gains in the decision-making process, so no matter what you’re trying to convince others to do, show both sides of the coin.
Showcase the reactions of others Humans are highly social animals, and we often make decisions based on the actions and beliefs of others. For instance, hotel guests are more likely to reuse their towels if they are shown a message stating that many others are already doing this, rather than one that promotes the environmental aspects of reuse alone. For those in the working world, testimonials and recommendations can be powerful factors in helping others to make decisions.
Find common ground Likeability is often a key factor in winning people over and studies have shown time and again that one of the key factors in influencing how much a person likes another is how many similarities they share. So if you’re seeking to persuade, take time to find out about the other person’s interests and determine what common ground you two may share.
Leadership is about learning, curiosity, and never standing still. Regular readers will know that the concept of “Beginner’s Mind” in Zen is of particular fascination to me.
I follow many blogs on Leadership – and this from Bret L Simmons was one I meant to re-post before. It is not a Zen-based article. but I think you will get the point.
“I caught this interview with Kaki King on CNN today. I’ve never heard of Kaki King, so I was barely paying attention when she said something that just blew me away:
I play guitar for a living, and this guitar is way smarter than me. I know that, and I say this a lot, but I really mean it from the bottom of my heart. I am a guitar student, and I will be for the rest of my life. There is just too much to learn in a lifetime. There is something beautiful and challenging and humbling about that that I don’t want to let go of.
This is a woman that Rolling Stone magazine named a “Guitar God” in 2006, yet instead of considering herself a master, she embraces the role of life-long learner. Although the art of the music is interdependenton both her and her guitar, she exalts the potential of the instrument over her own strengths and accomplishments.
Gosh, I wish more leaders would view the people they’ve been given the privilege to lead that way. Our attitudes as leaders should be “these employees of mine are way smarter than me. I am a student of the potential of their behavior, and I could spend a lifetime learning how to better partner with themto create an organization where we, our customers, and our community can all thrive. I am humbled by the challenge of what our interdependence can achieve.”
Kaki’s comments about her music remind me that the art of leadership is in mastering the discipline and joy of continual learning. Kaki might disagree, but I think people are more fascinatingly complex than any musical instrument. There is just too much to learn in a lifetime about how to work well with others.
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Maybe this is advice I need to take, too?
Its the End of the World as We Know It
~Written for the London Student Paper, Volume 32, Issue 07~
So, our little world is soon to go out with a whimper (or a bang, it isn’t particularly clear). We’ve murdered our last polar bear, and watched our last season of Christmas Coca Cola adverts. In a year promising the return of the devil and the landing of UFOs, avoid mountainous France, any Procter & Gamble Headquarters (you can never be too careful), and watch as, if nothing else, London’s big year guides us towards Armageddon with a drizzle of patriotic fervor.
Victoria Yates
"Can't we settle this over a nice game of wiff-waff?"
The UK continues to strengthen its friendship with Europe
Cameron pledges to ensure the success of the Olympics any way he can