- Be More Relatable
- Posts
- Switch channels
I write weekly about the strategies, habits, and tactics around cultivating the connections that matter to you.
If you were to open up your social media feed of choice, your eyes will be drawn to two things. By the end of this post, I hope you’ll spend more time paying attention to one.
The first thing we look for is what our favorite friends, families, and fools have shared. Maybe it’s a big life or career update. Maybe it’s a picture from a recent trip. Maybe it’s a deep spark of inspiration that came to them while they were in the shower¹. That’s useful signal for you to provide a message of support or consolation, a helpful resource, or your response to “Do fish take baths?”
The architects of LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram, etc have not stopped there - and that’s where it goes off the rails a bit. They realized that the reactions could be captured on platform, and can help spur further engagement and posting. So instead of picking up the phone, we’re now conditioned to type into a textbox or click the Like button.
Putting aside the negative loop that is created there - what matters for us is our desire to connect with them is bucketed with everyone else - 5 likes becomes 6. The original poster sees “8 comments” instead of “No, fish can’t take baths, but showers are a different story” - which might be nearly invisible.
If we want to build a relationship with someone, it’s important that you actually connect with them, and not have our intention just be bundled up with everyone else.
What can you do?
Treat social media as a flare - a signal that there is something to connect over.
Don’t let it replace the walkie talkie - the general way that you can actually connect with someone.
Until next week!
-Zvi
¹ - next time you’re with a group of people, ask them which way they face in the shower. Step back and be surprised about the variety of very strong opinions!
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