Friends of Dave #125: We're Engaged!
If you like it, don't just put a ring on it. You need to communicate regularly.
SPOILER ALERT: no one here is making an announcement that they are getting married, Friends....However I am going to talk a little about the importance of being engaged.
As what usually happens in this space, I have a number of things or conversations that occur over the course of a week that makes me think about a topic -- and this week was no exception.
I don't care if you are in marketing, sales, HR, client service, a parent or a significant other -- you cannot deny that it has become increasingly difficult to get, and keep, someone's attention. We humans are a distracted, over stimulated species -- and the idea of "undivided attention" is slowly on the road to extinction. Google "attention span 2019" and you see what I mean.
This being the case, from time to time we still need to find a way to get people to focus on a topic, an idea, a pitch, etc. From what I have seen, this puts our ability to engage others at a premium.
Engagement is far more nuanced than most people think. Despite what some brands and people may believe, engaging someone is never a one way broadcast. Taking this approach may have worked in the past, but now that we are competing for limited brain space, this is no longer the case. In fact, it runs a larger risk of backfiring and actually turning off an audience.
Effective engagement takes a bit of a back and forth, usually with one side creating a connection in order to get a reaction from another side. And when they do get that reaction, the packet of information delivered needs to be precise and easy to digest and clear about what action needs to be taken, otherwise it will be a wasted opportunity. That requires thought, some planning, and an understanding of the recipient. Proper engagement isn't about the quantity of touches, it's about quality.
Think about how you and your firms attempt to engage with others. Do you take a thoughtful, strategic approach to maximizing the value of the engagement? Or is it merely a self serving exercise where the goal is to send a message without any clear benefit or value to the person or company receiving it?
As I mentioned at the top, I've had a bunch of instances crop up recently where I had to think about this. I'm convinced that due to our shortened attention spans, the ability to effectively interact with others is becoming more vital. Engagement isn't just about getting attention -- it's about thoughtfully converting that interaction into a meaningful, repeatable and prolonged response.
The companies, brands, and people that are able to be proactive in mastering this are (and will continue to be) the most effective communicators. They take time to understand their audience and consistently deliver value in every engagement. And they will also be the ones that win the most deals, retain the most clients, hire and develop the best employees, expand their networks and are happiest with their personal relationships.
Friends, just by reading this intro or clicking on the links below means we are engaged. I am hopeful that this continues. Enjoy the articles and have a great weekend -- hard to believe, but Memorial Day is next week!
XOXO
Dave
Think on These To Get Started...
Being creative matters less than you think it does
You might think that the most innovative companies must be full of creative people. Good look at why that’s not necessarily true.
Do Something Syndrome: Why Movement Trumps Results
We convince ourselves that motion is better than inaction but doing something isn't the same as getting results.
A Few For Your Day Job...
How to tell when procrastinating is actually anxiety A packed to-do list with no time for meaningful work can be a sign that something deeper is going on.
One-on-ones are my most valuable meetings; here’s how I run them
As alluded to in the preamble, employee engagement & retention is critical. The way you do one-on-one meetings with employees can demonstrate care and boost engagement while allowing you to help guide employee growth. Good food for thought for you managers.
4 Mistakes Companies Make When Hiring Sales Leaders
Interesting look at some common errors like emphasizing “height” over “slope”, under-emphasizing cultural fit, having insufficient rigor in interviews, and not paying attention to onboarding new leaders. Any one of these can lead to the person’s failure.
Your Weekly Dose of Randomness...
How Men Became "Emotional Gold Diggers"
My wife told me to include this so I did....She also told me to tell you it is a long read....I usually do what my wife says....
Man wins his “cell phone in car was actually a hash brown” court case
Interesting, but I think I would have been more impressed by this story if the headline was "Florida man convinced that cell phone in his car is actually a hash brown."
Burger King takes on McDonald's with a range of 'unhappy' meals
The fast-food chain introduced a range of boxed deals it’s calling “Real Meals,” including the Pissed Meal, Blue Meal, Salty Meal, Yaaas Meal and DGAF (Don’t Give a F---) Meal as part of Mental Health Awareness Month.
WATCH: The NEW TWA Hotel at JFK — www.youtube.com
If in a past life you ever journeyed through the old TWA terminal at JFK Airport, you will distinctly remember its iconic style and architecture. TWA the airline might be gone, but the terminal is reopening this week -- reimagined as a hotel. Really cool piece on it.
And The Last Word....
Actually, Gen X Did Sell Out, Invent All Things Millennial, and Cause Everything Else That’s Great and Awful — www.nytimes.com
Sandwiched between the change-the-world boomers (around 75 million) and the we-won’t-wait-for-change millennials (approximately 83 million), we were doomed to suffer a shared case of middle-child syndrome, an eight-figure-strong army of Jan Bradys.
In case you missed this, it was making the rounds this week on social media. It's sort of a midlife crisis review of where Gen Xers sit in the generational continuum. It's a bit long, but worth solidering through if you have some time this weekend. Also worth checking out links to related stories at the end.
And if you liked this, you may appreciate the last "open letter" to Millennials I wrote for Inc. a few years ago.