It’s foolish to think that old-school etiquette no longer matters in the age of mobile and social. Wrong! Just because we’re sending #thanks via Instagram or birthday greetings on Facebook, doesn’t mean we’re given a pass on politeness. Be considerate not a networking jerk. Correct your modern networking bad habits this month with these suggestions:
- Skip the FOMO and stop leaving a host guessing: RSVP promptly to all invitations (remember, if you’ve focused your career goals, then selecting what to attend or not, should be easier!).
- Read the fine print on the invitation: Don’t assume the host wants you to bring a +1 and your own #hashtag.
- Give thanks by following up with a personalized note, text or tweet (or depending on the host, all of the above).
As I note in Chapter 7 of #BYDN:
Your ability to network successfully — that is, your ability to build strong relationships — is based on trust and the quality of your connections, not on whether the number of your Twitter followers increased because of a trending hashtag. Relationships shape your professional road map, not fast Facebook friends. Inserting some good, old-fashioned, predigital consideration back into your networking exchanges, will make you stand apart from the crowd.
