The Power of Social Media
Truth: I resisted getting into social media for a long time. Why? I like in-person or telephone conversations so I can see and/hear the person. And I don’t consider e-mail social media, although you can carry on long conversations that way. Note: I don’t text or IM.
This year, I’ve moved on to see the power of the connections social media facilitates through LinkedIn, Twitter, Facebook, and lots of other platforms. Oh, I still see vultures out there mining my information and am aware of the addictive qualities. But I had a moment during which I saw the power of social media.
In August, I co-led a presentation on “Social Media: What’s the Return on Investment?” for the New York Providers Liaison Association (NYPLA), an organization of professionals who work at substance abuse and addiction rehabilitation centers.
When I displayed my LinkedIn profile on the screen, I went to the Recommendations section. There was a recommendation from La Wanda Stewart, a student at the Zicklin School of Business who was in my “Employee Development and Training” class last spring.
“I know that person,” announced a member of the audience. “She’s wonderful. La Wanda worked for me at an earlier job.”
My co-presenter started to tear up. She was deeply moved by the co-incidence but also the power of the tool that had facilitated this event.
In that moment, I, too, felt the power of social media.
However, I, too, am one to raise caution about the addictive qualities of social media and to endorse the need to stay in touch by seeing people face-to-face.