The tools of social media make it easier to connect with people. The cool term for these connections is ‘tribes.’ Seth Godin made the term popular.
The question is: through all this clutter of connecting are we really talking?
In a panel discussion at Catalyst 2010 one panelist made the statement "social media has made it easy to connect and even communicate, but that does not mean we are engaging in meaningful conversations?"
The majority who read this post, just by the fact that they do so on-line would agree that conversations can happen through technology. However in this multitude of conversations are we talking?
- To really talk we must be intentional about the conversations.
- To really converse we need to engage.
- Engagement happens when we take time with the conversations.
When is the last time we picked up the phone and talked with a friend or co-worker?
In my business, social networking makes it easier to begin conversations with people. It is not the place to engage in meaningful conversations.
Does social networking make it easier for you to engage in meaningful conversations?