People Skills to Humanize Your Social Networking
by Kate Nasser | 8 Comments »
Social media has expanded the reach and diversity of professional networking. It has not replaced the people skills (also known as soft skills or interpersonal skills) needed for successful networking. Those that humanize their social networking with memorable people skills capture business deals, media exposure, and interviews for plum jobs. The following key principles, done well, make all the difference!
People Skills to Humanize Networking
Humanizing: Ask about them. Goals, networking goals, interests, specialties, etc… to be a substantive connection for them versus
Impersonal: “Are you a member of _____?” This is not a great opening line nor the primary focus of anyone’s life. Do you care about knowing them or just finding people who belong to a similar group?
Humanizing: Reply with a statement that shows interest in them and then add something about you. Make the connection by connecting into what they have told you versus
Impersonal: Replying purely with your information.
Humanizing: Disagree without being disagreeable. The ideas may be different yet the “I’s” can still respect each other versus
Impersonal: Telling them they are wrong.
Humanizing: Express your preferences as preferences versus
Impersonal: Speaking in command mode. One day on Twitter, someone sent me the following tweet: “Stop tweeting on the naysayer theme.” I un-followed him immediately.
Humanizing: Express gratitude from the beginning and acknowledge their help publicly/privately versus
Impersonal: Using phrases like “now that you are on board”. That was the first message I received from a brand new connection. People might jump ship after that opening!
What else would you add to this list on humanizing networking? I welcome your ideas in the comments field below. Learning is the fuel for great people skills.
From my professional experience to your success,
Kate Nasser, The People-Skills Coach™
©2011 Kate Nasser, CAS, Inc. Somerville, NJ. If you want to re-post or republish the content of this post, please email info@katenasser.com. Thank you for respecting intellectual capital.
Kate Nasser, The People Skills Coach™ delivers thought provoking workshops that re-energize customer service, teamwork, and leading change.
Humanizing: Show appreciation and gratitude in response to actions that deserve them versus
Impersonal: Failing to say thank-you, implying the relationship doesn’t deserve it.
Humanizing: Praise people publicly and critique privately (and politely) versus
Impersonal: Criticizing people publicly in a way that makes them defensive rather than cooperative.
So very true Karen. There are many online doing just the opposite with shattering results. Great addition to this post and I am grateful. I will check out your blog shortly. It has a very interesting name!
Warmest wishes,
Kate
Kate,
Thank you so much. Honestly. As a new blogger and twitter user I’m still figuring it out.
It all boils down to manners!
Thank you!
-Matt
Well Matt it is manners — and also a strong desire to connect with not talk at.
Thanks for visiting. FYI: I just left a comment on your latest post about “The Job of Quitting Your Job”. Good one.
Kate
Thank you for connecting with me!
Humanizing: Absorb differing and difficult points of view to enrich your perspective and respect others.
Impersonal: Immediately dismiss another point of view or attack the message sender.
Nice touch Mark. And your reminder to be open-minded is true of many aspects in life — not just networking.
Great “add”. Thanks for visiting and contributing to Smart SenseAbilities.
Kate