In the age of ubiquitous social media, people are all about sharing. News links, random thoughts, congratulations, and cat pictures.
So, so many cat pictures.
Recent numbers show that 500 million tweets are sent daily.
#ThatsAlot
But take a step back and you might find that in-person sharing and collaboration around the office isn’t what it used to be, in part because you’re glued to TweetDeck or Hootsuite much of the day.
So how can you make sure you’re as collaborative in person as you are online? Here are three simple suggestions:
Get up
Walk over to HR, pop in to Creative, swing by Media, mosey past Accounts Receivable.
You have people skills. You are good at dealing with people. CAN’T YOU UNDERSTAND THAT?
Be brief, but see what others in the office are working on (it might inspire something in your effort), and share a mention of your current project.
Perhaps even ask for opinion!
Get physical
Working on a new ad? Polishing up some copy? Banging out a new blog post?
Print it out and take it with you on your walkabout.
If your colleagues have a couple minutes to spare, ask them to take a look. An account exec might have a totally different point of view than you or your immediate team. Or maybe that new junior art director is savant when it comes to social media content strategy.
Listen to what folks have to say and give it some thought.
Hey, you just collaborated!
Get lunch
Beyond the occasional brainstorm or feedback trawl, go out for lunch or drinks (after work) with co-workers in other departments, and run a big idea by them. Getting out of the office provides a different setting and allows the creativity – and craft beer – to flow.
Oh, but be sure to bring cocktail napkins to after-hours chats.
