The Elephant In Your Networking Tool Kit!!! - Social Media

We have all seen the advertisements warning (or at least advising) people to be aware of their particular 'elephant in the room' with regards drinking and driving.  This got me thinking about the preponderance of tools and ways "…to Find and be Found" that are cascading onto our computer or mobile device screens.

On a recent (free but used as a promotion of me and my services) presentation to a group of Job Seekers enrolled in a government sponsored 2nd Career Program, who wanted to learn which [social media] tools are best suited for them, and how to use them.  Expecting a small group of 14, the audience for Part 1 I was pleasantly surprised that 30+ turned up, and I found out that one in three of those attending were in fact team leaders or managers of the 'program' who wanted to learn as well. 

Each participant found their own individual ‘elephant’, and then connected with others in the group who had the same ‘elephant’.  My observation on the biggest ‘elephant’ was [and still is] for those who have not embraced or really engaged in social media to benefit themselves is ‘reluctance through unknown’.

Part 2 of my presentation was held a couple of weeks later, the original group all returned [with several new additions] and it took the form of a workshop.  After reviewing Part 1 Key Points – the participants dove straight in to ‘doing’ and ‘engaging’ 3 social media tools;  Google Profile, iGoogle & LinkedIn.  At the end of 2 hours, I took a straw poll – “Who has faced their elephant?” the response was 36 of the 37 had. 

So the question for you is:  Do you know what the Elephant is, in your toolkit?

I would recommend attending the SBCN Networking Event on June 15^th, ‘Linked-in, Now What?' Visit http://www.sbcncanada.org/ and Register today - and face a potential Elephant!