A short #BYDN musing fueled by a conversation this week with the team over at Truly, Inc. for their Anatomy Of A Strategy podcast and sparked by a digital trends report by Fjord (Accenture’s interactive and innovation team).
When it comes to making human connections, technology is a TOOL. Just a tool. Not THE solution or answer. Just a tool put to use by you, the human. Sometimes in our hot little anxious human hands technology is a spade, too often it is a loud speaker. It could be used by us more frequently as a library or resource – and despite its massive shortcomings, technology still can be an inspiration.
Rather than indulging your social media networking habit and technology addition with a post or like or RT, I want you to hit pause. Yes, PAUSE. Then:
Listen.
Watch.
Observe.
AND think like a digital designer: How is the end user (aka humans, your peeps, your community, your network) using the platform? How are they interacting with you on the platform? What can you learn about them (and yourself)?
YES you should leverage technology in your networking interactions – as ideally, it’s the great equalizer and democratizer of access, a gateway to forging new bonds and stronger connections – but not by a swipe or with a click. Leverage technology to listen, to reflect and to learn more about your network and your place within it.
Reflect before you connect.
