The power of the human connection

So I know that I have written about engagement in Social Media and the benefits it brings to brands and businesses.

It is, as I like to say, the gateway to your community.

If you are in my audience and reading this, then you know that I advocate for one aspect of Social Media that has the biggest impact of all: The human connection.

Whether it is in building your community, your content strategy, your customer services approach, etc. – no matter the area, the human connection is that defining factor that brings together brands and their audience.

The human connection plays an important role in:

Relationship Building
Successful Innovations
Human Leadership
Elevated Customer Experience Success

… and  much more.

But I won’t talk about brands or business today.

Nope.

I will talk about the power of the Human Factor.

That force that connects you with another person or entity.

That force that opens an understanding between humans.

That force that is based on a shared link.

This is something that as a Psychology major has always intrigued me.

As Brian Solis put it:

“Social media is about sociology and psychology more then technology.”

As a Social Media professional, you do your best and focus on ‘your tribe’ and build relationships with them. You interact, you share, you support.

You build an Online ‘life’, if you will.

Then, you also have your Real life.

Two separate things, right?

Now. I will make a small pause here and state this:

There isn’t (or at least – shouldn’t be) an Online life YOU and a Real Life YOU.

There is only YOU.

This is not a cloning party. It is not a “Multiplicity” movie sequel.

If it is, SPOILER ALERT! you will get caught.

Authenticity is not one of the options on the Menu. It is the ONLY option on the Menu.

“Authenticity is a collection of choices that we have to make every day. It’s about the choice to show up and be real. The choice to be honest. The choice to let our true selves be seen.” Brene Brown

OK. So let’s get back to our originally scheduled programming. 🙂

Many people use the well-known IRL abbreviation (In Real Life).

It is used to distinguish the Online from the Not-Online world.

And one should, in my opinion.

Specifically, you should protect yourself. You should keep your private life, private. You should keep a balance. But never be something other than yourself.

Reasons vary, but that can be another blog post.

However, I want to point out, remind & emphasize that the person on the other side of the screen… is real. You are real. The medium doesn’t change the fact that those two people are actually … wait for it… real! (that goes from both a personal and professional standpoint).

That is not to say that there is not enough fake out there to go around.

As you navigate this online world, you come across A LOT of people. Some good and some… well, you get the idea.

Let’s stick to the good ones, shall we? 🙂

When you come across people that you click with, have common interests with and build a bond with:

• You build a community
• You connect
• You are open
• You share value
• You listen
• You support & encourage each other
• You respect & are kind to each other
• You focus on the social part of Social Media.

You nurture that bond.

You focus on the human factor – the human connection.

And if you are lucky, everything comes together and at some point you even get to meet in person with these people.

I won’t lie or sugarcoat it. Truth is, it can go both ways. Really well or really bad (that’s where the authenticity factor referred to earlier, as well as purpose, comes to play).

I came to experience the undeniably good side of human connection, recently.

I got to meet in person with people from an online community I am part of. Flying in from different countries, we took the opportunity and made it happen.

People I am inspired by.

Spread across the globe, working in various industries, all making a difference

On a daily basis, the people in this community share snippets of their day & life,  personal and professional achievements, goals and aspirations, collaborations, struggles and frustrations and have come to form a bond.

Real life (see, there is that word again!).

Their faces and voices were already familiar of course as in today’s world, videos and virtual hangouts provides that 🙂

HOWEVER, when meeting them the power of the hugs shared is something that cannot be described or be compared with… it was priceless.

I could define hugs as a silent language. OK, sometimes not so silent 🙂

And that language was spoken. Loud and clear.

Those hugs were received and given by the truckload! 🙂

Laughs were shared and memories were made.

Long conversations were had and life stories were recounted.

Adventurous moments were plentiful.

Like I said, priceless.

 

Thank you Bricelj and Beattie for the above and for your friendship.

 

I was reminded of the importance of these types of connections.

These types of connections show and solidify the best there is in communities.

These types of connections prove that within Social Media there is more value in the human connection than anything else.

Not just from a professional standpoint, but from a personal standpoint.

That is why I work in Social Media.

That is why I build and create through Social Media.

That is why I love Social Media.

First and foremost because of the power of the human connection.

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Would love to hear your thoughts on this topic in the comment section!

Good vibes only and have a great day!
Natasha

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