photo: The coworker who got fired snapped this photo when we were out to lunch together
Someone in my newsroom was fired in my first week of working in local TV news.
She was really nice to me and made me feel welcome in those early days of being the newsroom rookie. She invited me out for lunch one day. The early signs of a friendship!
It was probably my first Friday. The news director called us all into the control room after the two-hour morning show. (My first clue should have been that the boss was there at 7 in the morning.)
He stoically said, “She no longer works here.”
My jaw hit the floor.
Not a single pair of eyes I met around the room seemed shocked.
(Tough crowd)
I don’t think I ever found out the reason why she was fired, but so began the revolving door of ins and outs.
I lived 12 years on a carousel of “I quit” and broken contracts. Going-away parties and going-away cakes. Some tears. A lot of ‘good riddance!’ And some names and faces I inevitably forgot.
(My jaw stopped hitting the floor.)
Even so, when I look back at my relatively short newsroom career, I always remember the friends I made during commercial breaks.
There were producers who saw me at my best and my worst. There were photographers who I’d trust with my life. And the meteorologists who always became my closest confidants.
Some friendships have lasted longer than others, and I will cherish them forever.
At the core of being human is building connection, whether the going gets good or the going gets rough. I don’t know about you, but I want to make sure someone out there can relate to me.
Don’t you want to feel seen, too?
I want you to think of your social media ‘grid’ (your business Facebook page or your Instagram profile) as a highlight of your offerings. These are your meat and potatoes.
Your stories are your commercial breaks: The time for you to really build relationships.
Ask yourself: Is my social media making connections? How am I nurturing relationships beyond the hard sell?
Social media isn’t that complicated, it’s about connection.
(Who else remembers a/s/l??? The original connector.)
Yes, of course, you have to post a couple of ad-style graphics and show off what you’re offering customers or clients, but I beg you to make real human connection whenever you can.
I want every single person who follows your social media account to know exactly who you are and what you stand for! Everything from the level of care you provide your customers to what your drink of choice is.
Personal stories can live on your main feed if you’re comfortable with pulling back the curtain a little, but personal anecdotes live beautifully in Stories.
Let’s build relationships on social media again!
Tell me, what are you going to share during ‘commercial break?’
And if you have ANY questions about how to build better relationships — or how to show up better on social media — send them my way! I am here to help!
with peace & love, Sara