Daily Digital Detox
For those of you who know me, you know I love social media. I’m fascinated by the fact that we have all these nifty tools right at our fingertips which allow us to communicate with anyone in the world. We are more connected to each other than we ever have been before.
At the same time, the digital devices we use to access these social networks serve as a distraction when we need to communicate offline. We struggle to engage in quality, in-person conversations because we are so worried about what is happening online.
So as much as I love being connected through social media, I want to challenge you to a Daily Digital Detox. You may have read articles where some folks do a digital detox by going off Facebook for a month or staying off of social sites while they are on vacation. When I speak of a digital detox, I want to take it one step further. Let’s turn off our digital devices and put them away.
I have thought about how WE can do this on a daily basis – and I plan on taking this challenge with you because goodness knows I am always connected to my laptop. Watch this video to hear the four ways we can meet the challenge of a Daily Digitial Detox.
Let’s re-cap those four great tips so you can meet your Daily Digital Detox challenge!
1. Get a traditional alarm clock.
If you use your cellphone for your alarm (like I do), you have a huge temptation to check your e-mail, facebook, twitter and more, as soon as you turn your alarm off (like I do). This is no way to wake up! In your state of grogginess, you do not want to reply to that e-mail from your boss. If you use an alarm clock that is not your phone or your tablet, you can get out of bed, get ready and wake up to your day before you get plugged in.
2. No digital devices at meetings or meal times.
If you have your cell phone on the table during meetings and meal times, you are not fully present in that moment. Unless you are working on website design with your team or building the next great app, do not even bring your digital devices into that next team meeting. You will be a more conscious contributor and you can enjoy more productive meetings. When you are with your friends, your family or your client, make sure your phone is turned off and put away. Be fully present in that moment and in the conversation. You will find that you engage in higher quality conversations and enrich your relationships because your focus is on the people in front of you, not on the notification rings and dings of your phone.
3. Enjoy the experience, live in the moment.
The next time you are at a concert, enjoying a sporting event or at the park with your kids, put the phone away. Sure, take a few snapshots, record that one favorite song the band plays, but aside from that, put the phone away and soak it all in. If you record every moment of your life through the screen of your cell phone, that’s all you are experiencing. You are missing the bigger picture and the opportunity for a more memorable event. When you live in the moment, you are creating a richer memory. When you speak about the event at a later date, you will remember more of it, because you actually lived it – all of it.
4. Establish a digital curfew.
If you tend to go to bed at the same time every night, this will be a bit easier for you. What I’d like you to do is shut down your computer, your iPad and cell phone one hour before you go to bed. Give yourself some time to unwind and relax before you go to sleep so that you can feel more rested and rejuvenated in the morning. If you are on your computer two minutes before you plop your head on the pillow, you are likely one of those people who are dreaming about work and wake up completely stressed out. Give your body the opportunity to digitally detox and calm down before you drift off into dreamland. You are making for a better night’s sleep.
Now it’s time to challenge you!
While I don’t anticipate that you will incorporate all four of these tips at once, I challenge you to adopt one of them right now. Give yourself the next three days to incorporate your Daily Digital Detox and be sure to let me know how you do. I’m curious how it makes you feel and how it enhances your conversations and your life.
It is simply amazing and wonderful to be digitally connected to the world, but it is so important that we do not forget how to communicate with those who are sitting right in front of us. The human connection is far richer than a text message or a tweet. We crave interaction with people, so let’s unplug those digital devices and enjoy each other more.
Thanks for sharing this article with your friends who can take the daily digital detox challenge with you! If you want your weekly serving of positivity and purpose, as well as helpful tips for strategic communication, branding and social media, please make sure you subscribe to Beaming Bohemian news. It lands in your inbox every Friday!
Four Tips for Better Networking
After attending a few business functions in the past couple of months, I see that few people are taking the opportunity to grow their contact base and network. I’ve even attended networking mixers where people did not bring their business cards or didn’t reciprocate when I handed them mine. Awkward! So with these experiences and the start to 2014, I thought I would share my four tips for better networking.
To expand on the points I mentioned in the video…
1. Always have a business card on you!
You never know who you will meet and where you might meet them. Tuck business cards into your purse, briefcase, wallet, car, gym bag and other things you carry so that if you happen to meet the one person who can help you get ahead in this world, you are not scribbling your information on a napkin. Or worse, you don’t exchange information at all.
STUDENTS: Set yourself and your personal brand apart by having contact cards made. Include your name, field of interest, and one or two ways to get in contact with you, including a social network, like Twitter. If you are a student-athlete, mention the sport you play or use graphics on the card to express this point. Vista Print is an affordable option. I like the designs available at MOO.com.
2. Be approachable and responsive at events.
If you are attending a business function or networking mixer, even a cocktail party, it’s time to be open to meeting new people. If you stand in the corner with your nose to your phone or speak only with your friends, you are missing out on the opportunity to expand and grow your network. What’s the point of attending a function in the first place? On that note, if someone is brave enough to walk up to you and introduce themselves, by all means, be friendly and welcoming, engage in conversation and exchange business cards. If you are the host of what you call a “networking mixer” it is your job to introduce guests to each other and help people work the room.
3. Listen up!
Your secret ingredient to being a top-notch networker is your listening skills. Develop the ability to listen to the person you’ve met and figure out what or who you have in common. Do you know someone who works at their company? Do you share the same love of the outdoors and hiking? Maybe they have a family and their kids go to the same school as yours. Maybe you are both UCSB Gauchos! Learning about your new contact will help you develop a better relationship with them and connect them to others in your network. The art of networking rests within the ability to make connections. If you approach people with the idea that you want to see what you can get out of them, you are not networking. If you recognize that your role is to connect people you know, you will be a very successful networker. The more you connect other people to each other, the more they will connect others to you. What you give, you will receive.
4. Connect online and follow up.
Once you’ve collected those cards, go home and jot down some notes. This will help you keep your memory in tact! What event did you meet at? What do you have in common? Was there a funny story you enjoyed? If you know who you want to connect them to, write their name down too. Figure out what social channel your new contact is on and connect. Follow up by introducing them to another person in your network and scheduling that coffee meeting you spoke about. Periodically going through your business cards will jog your memory of the people you know and set you up for success when you are out and about or at business-specific functions. Those notes you wrote on the cards will help you follow-up and nurture your relations.
STUDENTS: Your contact base may not be as large as a seasoned professional, but that doesn’t mean that you cannot play by these rules. At the next young executives gathering or a networking function, challenge yourself to meet five new people or ten new people, whatever you find reasonable for the event. Apply these tips and watch how fast your network grows.
And that’s four! Pretty easy to adopt and very effective tips for better networking. Remember, networking is not about you. It’s about helping connect the people you already know. This lands you a reputation as a good networker and that person who “knows everyone.” To grow in your career or expand your business, networking is an essential skill.
Now it’s time to challenge you. Take these four tips with you to your next business or networking function and let me know in the comments below how well it worked for you. Have a tip of your own? Leave a comment below and share with us! Besides, you never know who you might meet in the comment section. Think of it as digital networking.
Thanks for watching the video. If you want your weekly serving of positivity and purpose, as well as helpful tips for strategic communication, branding and social media, please make sure you subscribe to Beaming Bohemian news. It lands in your inbox every Friday!
Avoid a Michael Bay Meltdown
It’s been all over the news this week that Michael Bay had an epic meltdown on stage for Samsung at CES after the teleprompter malfunctioned and he simply froze. As a professional speaker, I empathize with him. I think we’ve all had a moment where our brain short circuits and we totally forget where and who we are! After looking at the video (and cringing throughout), I wanted to give you a few speaking tips so that you do not experience a Michael Bay moment. While I do believe that my participation in youth theater rid me of stage fright, I understand that giving a professional presentation is a whole heartedly different experience than dressing in costume and performing in a play (that’s my subtle hint that some theater classes may also help). Nonetheless, here is my advice:
Prepare, prepare, prepare.
You cannot prepare enough for a formal speech. You have to thoroughly familiarize yourself with the material, know what you will say when each slide appears and memorize key phrases which are your impact points. Preparing for your speech also means rehearsing several times before you do it live. This makes for a more natural performance, because you are comfortable with the material.
I actually go through my whole presentation without the computer, so that I can visualize the slides I am speaking on. This will help you rely less on the screen and more on your words, so that you are speaking WITH the audience, not merely describing whatever information you’ve put in your slides. It is clear to me that Michael bay did not really prepare for his presentation. His plan was to rely on the teleprompter. So when that went on the fritz, he was lost. He even said, “I’ll try to wing it.” But clearly he didn’t prepare enough to be able to do so.
Anticipate the worst.
In my preparation, I include pauses where I anticipate a question from the audience. I think about what questions the audience might have and prepare my answers. I think about what questions I might pose to them to keep the conversation going. You also have to anticipate computer malfunction, disruptions from the audience (cellphones going off), power outages, etc. The more interruptions you can anticipate, the more you will be prepared. Clearly, Michael Bay didn’t anticipate technical difficulties. Had he anticipated this and prepared his speech for it, he wouldn’t have walked off the stage.
Practice spontaneity.
This sounds a little strange, but you can actually do this. As part of your preparation, you should visualize yourself in the room, on the stage with double the audience you anticipate will be there. In your visualization, throw yourself some curveballs and practice your reaction. Imagine a heckler. Imagine your sound cuts out. Imagine the teleprompter shuts off just seconds into your speech. While this is a bit like anticipation, practicing spontaneity is practicing your reaction. If you practice spontaneity, you will not have the deer-in-the-headlights moment that Michael Bay did.
My own Michael Bay moment.
In a presentation I made for PCMA in 2012, I was asked to put the powerpoint on a clip so they could use their computer, already hooked up and ready to go. I prefer using my Mac, but I wanted to be cooperative and provided the USB clip. Sure enough, about half way through my presentation, their computer crashed. I had a good laugh with the audience when I said, “Great! That’s my cue for the entertainment portion of the program.” I then did a mock tap dance while I sang, “Let Me Entertain You.” I then explained that my Mac would never leave me high and dry in a presentation (more humor and a chuckle from the audience) and that I needed help (being honest, humble and human). Two of the audience members came to my rescue and while they were getting the powerpoint back up, I was able to stay on point and continue to deliver my content. And the audience stayed with me. Was I embarrassed? Of course! My cheeks felt hot and I felt tremendous pressure to recover. But I had prepared well for my presentation, I anticipated glitches, and I practiced spontaneity. Many remarked that they were impressed with how I handled the situation because they expected a Michael Bay meltdown and instead got a Shanna Bright show. 😉 I wowed them.
I absolutely get that speaking in front of large audiences is a frightening experience. But preparation, anticipation and spontaneity are your tools for delivering a successful speech and one that engages and involves your audience. You are not a professor who is giving a lecture, you are a professional who is speaking WITH your audience. Rehearsing your conversation will help you navigate the talking points and deliver a more personal presentation. With that, you can completely avoid the on-stage nightmare that Michael Bay lived out in front of all of us.
Here is the video on the off-chance you have not yet seen it:
Nick Saban, “The Process” and Tweeting
photo via 60 Minutes
On the November 3rd edition of 60 Minutes, the program featured Alabama head coach Nick Saban. 60 Minutes was granted rare access to the football team’s practices and behind the scenes. It was a look at what makes Alabama so successful, namely, the coaching philosophies and strategies of Nick Saban.
The team chant is “Get your mind right.” You’ll hear Saban shout at his players, “Do it again,” in an effort to make sure that they do their job the right way, perfectly. He talks about creating a standard of high achievers. The part which I loved the most was his talk about “The Process.” He teaches his players to, “Ignore the scoreboard. Don’t worry about winning. Just focus on doing your job at the highest level – every single play. The wins will follow.”
Nick Saban challenges his players to “play every play of the game like is has a history and life of its own.” He enjoys seeing his players take “pride in performance.”
While I had many flashbacks to the life lessons I learned from my tough-as-nails softball coach (a.k.a. “Dad”), I also kept thinking about how Nick Saban’s process could be so easily applied to our communication and what stories and messages we share with the world through social media.
If we approached every tweet, every post, every photo, every video with that same mentality, just think about how awesome our messages would become. If we stopped for one moment before we hit the send button and asked ourselves out loud, “Is this the best tweet of my life?” I wonder how quickly we would achieve more positive and purposeful communication? What examples could we set for others to follow? What pride in our performance might we gain?
Nick Saban may be on a quest for perfection on the football field, but his players know that it’s not just all about the game. He makes them better people. I have often said that we can tell a lot about our society by what and how we communicate. What we say to each other (in person and online) demonstrates the state of our community and how we treat each other, what level of respect we have for our fellow humans and how we feel about ourselves. If we focus on communicating at the highest levels (every message is your absolute best), then I believe we will grow communities of people who are nicer, kinder and more compassionate. We will be better people. And the wins will follow.
The full 60 minutes segment is included in the following video…
If for some reason the video doesn’t load, you can watch it here: http://www.cbsnews.com/video/watch/?id=50158430n
To watch the 60 Minutes Behind The Scenes on this story, follow this link:
This segment was also an extraordinary look at a truly amazing and inspiring man.
Eye Contact
In the past month or so, I’ve delivered several seminars on the topic of social media and personal branding to a variety of groups. During the sessions we usually have a healthy discussion about respect, and how we need to pay attention to how we treat each other, both on and offline. I am always impressed when students comment on how we have lost our social skills because of social media. That’s the moment I know there is hope for future generations!
I have heard some say that without face-to-face communication, it’s more difficult to respect someone as there is still a feeling we can “hide” behind our computers. I even ran across this article the other day, “Growing social media influence damaging our generation,” written by a University of Wisconsin, Madison student. This also gives me hope that young adults, as much as they love their phones and tablets, still crave eye contact and recognize the importance of in-person conversations.
Here’s another article from Inc. Magazine talking about The Lost Art of Eye Contact. As much as I am fascinated by all of the possibilities to connect with people online, and from all over the world, I remain convinced that we need to work just as much on our relationships offline and eyeball to eyeball as we do cultivating connections through technology. What are your thoughts?
The Social Olympics: Is your Club medal-worthy?
As the Olympic Games in London unfolded, the world’s top athletes took to social media to share their experiences. We saw some wonderful stories develop and fun moments from inside the Olympic Village. We also witnessed one Greek and one Swiss athlete leave the games for inappropriate tweets. British diver, Tom Daley, US Women’s Soccer Goalie, Hope Solo, and even America’s sweetheart, Aly Raisman, landed in the news because of their online activity. These elite athletes taught us that not even Olympians are sure how to use social media beneficially.
The games served as a good reminder that the lack of new media training does not apply only to athletes. It’s an issue for many businesses, too. Private Clubs struggle with the issue even more.
Most every club has an executive team that is comprised of the GM, Membership/Marketing, F&B, Catering/Private Events, Member Relations, and the Executive Chef. All of these departments are essential to a successful team and performance. And each team member has a unique voice which can serve the Club well in communicating with members and prospective members online. But, just like in synchronized swimming, if one team member’s moves and timing is off, points are deducted and the gold medal will remain out of reach.
Social networks are simply communication tools that should be integrated into marketing and communication strategies. It’s essential that your Club integrate social media into your communication plan and decide what role department managers and staff will have. Establishing guidelines for the team to use as a resource is smart planning.
Determine the content each department will contribute. Make a content plan. This is critical so that everyone understands what and when they should post their news. Private clubs, social by nature, don’t need to have separate accounts for each department – personally signing Facebook posts or initialing tweets is acceptable, and actually makes your content look like a team effort. Make social media part of your weekly meetings where you discuss what your communication objectives are and how each member will participate. This will enhance your content plan so that everyone understands the strategy.
In Private Clubs, the responsibility for social media falls on the team. This is not an individual sport like archery or track & field. The Chef sharing food pictures and recipes is just as significant as the Catering Director thanking Mr. & Mrs. Smith for hosting their wedding at the Club. The members appreciate the team as a whole, as well as the individuals who fuel the dynamics. And that’s why the authentic voice needs to shine through. If the receptionist has been assigned as the lead on posting everything to social networks, then every post will sound like it comes from the receptionist. Private Clubs are in such a unique and wonderful position to share the ongoing story of the club and the value of membership. Each department has a special story to tell which enriches the Club’s brand message.
From top to bottom, all staff members should understand your brand identity and message, and take part in helping to achieve gold in the Social Olympics.
Everyone, despite their position or level of experience, can learn to communicate well and to serve as better brand ambassadors. Loyalty starts within your club. One rogue employee, like Hope Solo, can torpedo your brand.
It’s time to train your staff, your managers, and leaders to be good communicators and to serve your club and members well.
It’s Just My Opinion
“It’s not about what made me unhappy,” Solo said. “It’s not about one game. I have my beliefs that the best commentators and the best analysts should be analyzing come Olympics, come World Cups, and it’s only my opinion. You can take it or leave it, to be honest, so it’s my opinion, and I think analysts and commentators should bring energy and excitement and passion for the game, and a lot of knowledge, and I think it’s important to help build the game, and I don’t think Brandi has that.
“It’s just my opinion, and nothing else really matters, to be honest. What matters is tomorrow’s game against North Korea, playing at Old Trafford. The team’s excited. It’s my birthday. I don’t really care to answer any other questions about Brandi.” via ESPN
Those of the words of an Olympic athlete. Hope Solo, the US women’s soccer goalie, made no apologies for her Twitter rant about the skills and ability of NBC correspondent, Brandi Chastain. This Mashable article has all of the tweets that Solo spewed, which were also tagged for Facebook posts.
Solo’s comments about Chastain were inappropriate enough that coach Pia Sundhage called Solo in for a meeting to discuss. What’s unfortunate, though, is that it appears Hope Solo was not reprimanded in any way.
What lesson does that teach Hope Solo?
Solo’s posts and commentary may be “only her opinion” but how will she learn that her opinions, expressed in a very public forum where the whole world is watching, does not favorably represent the U.S. women’s soccer team nor Team USA? How will she understand that her opinions do not reflect the opinions of the team or the USA? Will she understand that tweeting nasty comments teaches young girls who look up to her that that kind of behavior is acceptable? Will she realize that she comes across as a spoiled brat who doesn’t care what anyone else thinks? What lessons in leadership are missed here, as well?
I wonder what drove coach Sundhage to conclude that she would not discipline the birthday girl. She could have at least insisted that Solo apologize to Chastain. Solo could have been fined. Solo could have been benched for 15 minutes, a half or even an entire game. It would have been interesting to see if Solo is that big of a factor on the team. And it certainly would have driven home the point that smack talk is not an acceptable communication style for US Olympic athletes. Freedom of speech can be used as an argument here, but certain people are held to higher standards. We have greater expectations of the athletes that are privileged to represent our country in the Olympics.
During my softball days, my dad, who was also my coach, ran a very tight infield/outfield drill. As he and the other coach would smack softballs at us, one rule stood: If you drop the ball, everyone runs a lap. It was one drill which has stuck with me forever. My actions affect others.
Hope Solo could stand to learn the drill that her words are not just her opinion. In this scenario, they affect and reflect her team, her coaches, the US athletes and you.
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