Social Networking and Productivity

Today's post came from Luis Yerenas's inspiration, he's a friend of mine since our college years. So here are his thoughts:

One of the tools more used for networking actually are the social networks. Every day we have more options in accessibility due to the technologic revolution, and also influenced by the growing amount of people that are looking for a network subscription, nevertheless, this situation, may generate a "saturation" that sure attempts our productivity.

Each social network has an objective, at least, a mission for which it was created, so it's important that you identify in which ones you want to participate and what for. The social networks started as a mean for making friends and be in contact with acquaintances, actually the focus of some of them is for improving business and this could be seized in a very effective way, in another post we can deepen further in this idea. So for today's post we can review the productivity perspective.

Recently I heard that a Mexican gets into its social networks at an average of 150 times a day (Dinero en Imagen) and of course this amount has to do with the quantity of social networks at which we participate. I really think the theme is not the amount of social networks but the time we dedicate to each one.

In my personal experience, the amount of social networks and the time we dedicate its inversely proportional to the productivity. It may not be your case, but to avoid this situation, review your network and the time you spend each day, but above all, the moment you do it. Is it affecting your productivity? Review specially the networks you subscribe with professional objectives. Are your objectives been accomplished? Take special care of not being a slave of a particular social network, or your Smart phone in general, it may cause you job problems and even family ones.

Luis Yerenas Domínguez

Aceleración de PYMES

Consultor de Empresas Familiares

Coach Certificado en Protocolo Familiar

www.empresasfamiliares.com.mx

Oficina: +52(33)3110-6351
Móvil: 33-1241-5281

@YERDconsulting

Facebook: Yerenas Consultor Luis

Skype: yerenasluis

Rush Hour Networking

Some months ago I met Horacio at a crossroad in the middle of Contadero's neighborhood. Contadero is settled near Santa Fe and it's on my way home. This site has the quality to look like a little town inside a big city, so the streets are narrow, and there is a lot of public transportation, Buses, Peseras* and Taxis. So the traffic jams when its rush hour are frequently.

A city like Mexico, with so many cohabitants, becomes impersonal. The people usually see the other people but do not interact with them. So if you have a problem at the street, be prepared to be ignored by the passerby. This impersonalization, may have a correlation with the number of people that live in one city. The more people, more impersonalization. This is an hypothesis that may be corroborated by human studies investigators.

The thing is that I met Horacio at this crossroad, where I drive almost everyday. Our first encounter was a little weird. He was at this corner and make signs to the traffic. Of course that his gestures did not mean anything to me. First he stand up and cross his arms and hands, then he turned to the left and make the same with the other vehicles. I think for myself, what a strange man, and keep on  my way.

Several days passed by, and Horacio get a whistle, or maybe he buy one, the thing is that he continue making the same movement, but now with a whistle. The people that are regulars of this streets, began to make sense of what Horacio was trying to do, keep the traffic moving with a respectful attitude, first one street, then the other street. There always be someone trying to skip the rules, and there was a whistle sound to make conscience on the drivers to keep this attitude the next time.

Yesterday I saw Horacio again, he got for Christmas an fluorescent orange vest to make a better job. A lot of people identify him and there are some drivers tipping him, and of course saying hello. The public help he is doing, makes us to have a fun moment at a traffic jam and he really helps the cars to move forward. Also I recovered my faith on the  people that do this type of activities and help the human race.

Have you tried to share a little of your time to improve the life quality of the place where you live?

*Pesera: collective transportation unit smaller than a bus and that is used to move people in small distances. It's name came from the currency with which it was payed for a trip: One Peso.

Visiting Networking

This season I had the opportunity to gather with people that don't live in Mexico City and watch how they plan their agendas to make some networking. I share some of the activities they have done to organize their vacations and make them a little bit more cultural than ever.

The first request came from my sister and nephews. She called in advance to our dad and me and told us that she like to visit "Villa de Guadalupe". This is a Catholic sanctuary for our Mexican Virgin Mary, here in Mexico City is one of the most frequently visited places for pilgrims.

Gabriela told us that she wanted that her son and daughter live the experience to approach this site. I think immediately in my kids; they haven't visited this place either, so as soon as we can, we make the logistics for the trip. We were there learning, buying, asking for blessings and traveling among the vault. Everything because she made the request on the right time and moment and we could manage to organize.

Another request was made by my friend Diana and her sister Ana Carol, they came to the city with business matters, but also they take advantage of the trip to make some city tourism. First Diana told me her arrival dates and I had the opportunity to invite them to Molino Blanco. At that place we get together wit Karla, who has 3 years at this city and she is all informed about the cultural agenda of the city.

Once they introduced themselves, Diana and Ana Carol talked about what they would like to do at the city, and Karla bring up an agenda to visit museums, churches and another historical sites. It was pretty amazing listening the possible visits and some of them were very well adopted and other not so much, so Karla keep on making recommendations.

I like to share some suggestions, if you go on a visit or if you are the one receiving so you may improve your networking competences.

1.- If you know where you wold like to go, give the advise as soon as possible, this will make you time and more opportunities to find tickets, better places, times, etcetera.

2.- If you decide for a specific place, you probably get more people to the visit. This will only make more fun the event and give you more opportunities for networking.

3.- If you haven't been at the place before, ask to the people that was. It will be easier for you to get better suggestions if you let this people know in advance what would you like most.

4.- Take into consideration the personality of the requester, its not the same a girl than a boy. Its not the same an elder than a teenager, if you are going to give advise, first know the place personally so you can give an advise from your heart. 

Networking Rules

This holiday's I have the opportunity to watch the behavior of some of my family and friend members, so I can develop the following rules that may help you to keep up with your friends or at least leave a very good impression of you:

1. If someone let you his car, always leave the gas tank full. In this vacations I lend my car to some of my family members, and each time I went on it an drive the tank always looked at its full capacity. This is a fine way to say thank you and leave a good impression that may allow you that you get again the car for another occasion.

2.- Don't smoke when someone else is visibly altered by the situation. I came from a smoking family, and for them every place is a good spot to do it, for their particular point of view. A non smoker isn't disturbing, but a smoker usually does. What to do? use the open spaces or limit yourself to spaces where the smoke can be contained. When my sister Gabriela get sick, our Dad agreed to smoke outside exclusive to avoid disturbing her more, we all thank him for the gesture, and because we all know how hard it is for him.

3.- When someone invites you a meal or a coffee, give the follow up within a week. It is harder for a woman to do that in our Latin culture, but you will always find a way to give back the attention. 

4.- If you ask for help to your friends at some house chore, give them food in compensation. This year Javier, my friend, invited us to help him with his wedding materials. What I most recall on that event is that he prepared some food for every one and make us feel in our own house.

5.- Return the money owed as soon as possible, it doesn't matter how small the amount is. This will leave clean your image and also you will have a clean credit history. At work, we probably cover our teammates at lunch time. The best way to keep a friendship came with the moment you pay back your debts.

6.- If you spend the night at a friends house, do the bed or fold the sheets before you leave. This will help your friend to avoid having an extra house work, for sure you will have another invitation, because you showed up that you cooperate with the house chores. 

7.- When somebody cook for you, offer yourself to clean the kitchen. Also the past year Ofelia and Tania went to my house to make a cake. Ofelia baked and Tania do de dishes, I want them back to make some cookies. 

8.- If you miss a call, send a text message as soon as possible, if you aren't allowed to make the call back. This way you will show your friend how important he is for you. 

Do you have some additional recommendations to improve your networking? Share with us.