Social Media – Jane James's Consultancy Limited

Social Media – is ‘social’ the right word?

16 Apr 201824 Aug 2018Jane James1 Comment

The rapid growth of users to the social media platforms has exploded in recent years. It’s now acceptable for mobile phones to accompany us everywhere – and I mean everywhere!

I’ve lost count of the number of times I’ve heard people clearly on their mobiles in toilet cubicles! Hygenic? Courteous to the caller? If it’s private, why not go outside the building?

How rude the shoppers refusing to hang up their call whilst trying to pack their shopping, pay the cashier whilst balancing their mobile under their chin!

Is this civilised communication?

Like a free coffee whilst shopping in some chains, it seems something we never thought we’d need, but very quickly some can’t do without!

Over recent months I’ve attended various meetings/conferences where social media is clearly a double edged sword. There was the mum who highlighted her daughter had been bullied 24/7 to the point of suicidal thoughts – even moving school didn’t arrest this evil pursuit. Then there is the fledging business that after meeting with professionals and learning about Search Engine Optimisation, they increased their social media activity and saw their ranking on search engines increase rapidly.

Then of course, delivering training I notice how many people bring their phones with them. Rudeness, presenteeism etc don’t seem to enter their heads, so without trying, they give a really bad impression of their commitment, enthusiasm etc.

What prompted this reflection? Seeing on the news JD Weatherspoons has closed all 900 social media accounts as well as their 700,000 strong personal email database. The reason they give is they don’t like the compulsive use of social media, the trolling and so on.

It will be interesting to see if other companies follow this action and if JD Weatherspoons re-activates their accounts in the future.

There is something in ‘compulsive’ use – how many people do you know who go out with family/friends and then spend the night texting? or the colleague who insists on taking their mobile in meetings?

Maybe we really should be conscious of our use of this technology…..

Simon Sinek the British American Motivator, Business Consultant and excellent public speaker has a number of films on YouTube. Below is one on millennials which brilliantly illustrates the impact of the technology/social media……

What are your thoughts? Do we need to be more disciplined in our use of technology/social media?

The social media feature photo is by Geralt.

Growing Talent – The Fourth Generation…………

3 Feb 20153 Feb 2015Jane JamesLeave a comment

January 23rd saw 67 applicants take part in initial screening and assessment tasks with employers to secure one of the places on Growing Talent.

With a final total of 20 jobs for drivers, administrators, catering and hospitality assistants to services solution operatives and recruitment resourcers across London and Basildon – the heat was on!

You would assume something like this would be intense and cause nerves. The opposite was true! Applicants had the time to let their true personalities shine through, have a laugh and get to know other people in the same unemployed position as them.

The employers leading the assessment had a tough job but eventually managed to select 47 to go forward to the final stage on 26 January. Some employers were taking part for the first time. Hesitant on how to select people for their roles in the knowledge that if the guys completed the job was theirs and they would join their companies. Trying to find those ‘rough’ gems they thought would be hard.

Actually, it was easy. There was so much talent in the room and when you see people having fun and being themselves – not putting on a mask for a short interview – matching is quite natural.

The biggest problem was some employers chose the same candidate! What it is to be wanted – a great boost to the ego! Some chose not to select alternative candidates so 12 went forward to the Orientation Week.

Today is Day 2. Yesterday accomplished a lot. All 12, from ages ranging from late teens up to the mid-fifties, worked well together breaking down some of those misconceptions we all have about people. They had to do presentations on each other within 20 minutes of walking into the room – talk about pressure!

Three course lunch was amazing – and a welcome change from cheese sandwiches!!!

They entered the room pretty much as strangers, but left with the seeds of camaraderie growing!

What will today bring……

Getting Growing Talent out there…………………..

16 Dec 201416 Dec 2014Jane JamesLeave a comment

Shamefully, I’d always thought people working in media, advertising agencies etc were ‘lovvies’ who didn’t really work that hard. How wrong was I!

I learnt so much in the second meeting with the media agency yesterday. Publicizing something is a science! The cost for paper adverts is astronomical. Where do you start with social media – it’s like a black hole!

Thankfully Initiative know what they are doing. Lots of ideas and options were buzzing around the room. It’s so difficult to put Growing Talent into a box. It needs to be highlighted to both employers and the unemployed. Unfortunately, they rarely look in the same medium. This is quite a task we’ve set Initiative.

The Christmas break will give time to think about different options. Looking forward to the next meeting in January to see the three ideas – Bronze, Silver and Gold versions – from Initiative – what a great name for a media agency!