Do Twits Tweet?

It’s too cold. Period. Yesterday Antarctica was –36 degrees and Calgary ran a close second at –33 degrees. Which reminds me why I live in Vancouver.

I can’t help but again wonder how this social media thing keeps going. Never have so many people with so little to say, said so much to so few. What would compel you to tweet what you are doing right now? Worse yet, what would compel anyone to read what you are doing? Twitter allows you now to include your location. What an amazing upgrade! Not only can I tell you I’m having a latte, I can tell you where I’m having it! What a euphoric breakthrough for mankind.

What causes an otherwise fine mind to turn to Pablum when it comes to social media? I’d love to keep lampooning the subject but the shots are too easy.

Research says that 71% of a billion tweets get no reaction. The TV networks say social medial campaigns don’t impact a tv show’s viewing audience. Malcolm Gladwell has figured it out with an article in the New Yorker, “Why the revolution will not be tweeted.” I figured it out by asking my followers to send me 25 cents by paypal. Nobody sent anything. I’m assuming our friendship is pretty thin.

Active Facebook users are largely narcissists. We’ve add that question to our interview process to discover the immature candidate. Narcissists are a bitch to manage, they don’t pay attention and talk to the mirror, (they bring their own mirror).

The lesson for managers is idealism will backfire if you apply it to management. Deal with reality the way it’s given to you, not the way you’d like it to be. Pragmatism is essential. Your company’s customer advertising is emotional and compelling. It’s employee communication is factual, dry, and legalistic. See the problem?

Not dealing with reality is widespread and keeps the mental health, drug and liquor industry going. If you have trouble with reality, you might just be normal. As a manager take extra care to see what’s given to you, to look at things the way they are. Watch and listen to people, observe and keep a clear mind. People are not like you, not even close. If you don’t get that you might just be tweeting for yourself eventually.

Great managers deal with reality the way it is presented to them. See you in January for the most reality based management boot camp ever!

See you for breakfast,
Merry Christmas, (I checked, it's legal to use the word "Christmas.")
Wolfgang

p.s. Source: Sysomos social media tracking software company in Toronto.

p.s. A polarizing interview question. “Would you go to a John Tesh concert?”

p.s. If you’ve owned your company for 25 years or more, it’s time to think of act two. Call me, there are a hundred different ways to distance yourself from it, selling is only the last option.

p.s The whole social media thing is good and fine and I get it. What’s missing is the answer to the question, - to what end? Results? Efficacy is absent. Anecdotal impact is huge. Statistical impact, not discernable. Show me I’m wrong, I’ll withdraw my contempt in the next letter.

p.s. Personal branding is a way for people with no character to create an identity. Facebook allows me to present the life I think I should have had.