Everything I Need To Know, I Already Learned On Twitter

Lately, I’ve felt like I’ve been back in kindergarten relearning the rules of polite engagement. So, borrowing a line from Robert Fulghum, I present to you that everything we need to know, we already learned on Twitter.

1) Listen

As the saying goes, we have two eyes and one mouth for a reason – less talking more listening.

If you’ve ever spent any time in sales then you now that you’re not the one that matters. It’s your customer that is the interesting one in the conversation.

I don’t just mean listen to the words. Listen to the whole person, how they think, how they react to things, what they talk about when they’re not trying to tell you something specifically.

The more we actively listen to what’s important, the more we can help solve peoples’ problems and build a more meaningful experience on this rock.

And we do that by sharing.

2) Share

Hugh MacLeod talks a lot about social gestures in branding – it’s not the product, but the conversations that a product creates.

The social gesture really isn’t a new concept. In the 1900’s, George Herbert Mead said that our mind arises out of the act of communication. And that communication is based on social gestures. In these gestures, we build our identities – who we are to ourselves and the group.

Sharing builds upon listening. Once I know what you’re up to, I can pass along things that I hope you’ll find entertaining, educational, or helpful. That sharing and response creates an identity for our relationship.

Sharing builds reciprocity, too. There’s benefit for me in this gesture. In this gift, you now know something about me. Perhaps, just maybe, you’ll think of me when something I’m interested in pops up for you.

3) Say, “Thank you.”

Every single parent I’ve ever encountered has asked, “What do you say?” of their child at least once.

Gratitude is important because we tend to like people who are grateful. (Oh, and we tend to do business with people that we know, trust and like.)

In an economy of gestures, an unrecognized kindness damages your relationship and the identity of the individual who made the offer. When was the last time you did something nice for someone and they didn’t respond with a “Thank you”? Remember how that felt?

4) Ask if you can help

The precursor to a gift is the unsolicited offer of assistance. It’s the seed to a new identity and relationship. It also opens a dialogue on the right foot. This conversation isn’t about me. It’s about you and what you need right now.

We often think that we can’t help people. We don’t have the skills or money or time. Have no fear. It’s a self-fulfilling offer. You ask enough people if you can help them and eventually it’s not just you that can help, but your connections that can.