To the Winner, Go the Spoils! Becoming a Social Media Influencer, a Double-Edged Sword!

Many of you have asked me this over the years - What's the secret sauce of winning titles & awards, how does one become an influencer, make friends with folks from all over & such.

Here are my life's learning! 5 simple but extremely powerful points! Its because of them that I got announced yet again by SHRM as “HR Social Media Influencer”, 5th year in row!. Here goes:

1. It’s a lot of work

There is adage saying – Anything worth having is worth waiting & worth working for! Such is the case of joining the social influencers community. It will probably take you years, so start only if you think you can “give up something else” to make time & energy to be a social influencer. Everything in life is a trade-off! The social community waits & watches to see your intent, genuinely, effort & once established, stoops to help you soar.

2. It will test your patience

That it will. You just have to stay the course. Best way to do it is to experiment, innovate, watch & observe those “who’ve been there and done that”, seek out to ask & bit by byte, curate content, crowd-source content, create content & then start to contextualize content. Huge amount of patience & persistence will hold you in good stead! 

3. Consistency reigns supreme

Social media is not a spectator sport! It’s a contact sport! As with everything else, there are good days and bad. Keep at it. Deeply introspect & identify what “talks to you”, what would you like to share about…thumb rule I have followed is 30% I share about my domain, 30% about my company, 30% of what my friends & colleagues are saying and 10% of what I am most passionate about (that’s why many of you know that I am nuts about Urdu Poetry: -)

4. Collaborations is the only road we take & walk it at our own pace

If there is one thing I have learnt dabbling in this magical world of social media, it’s this – It only works if & when we collaborate & co-create, seek unflinchingly & share freely. Emotional bank balances must be built, trust won over several “moments of truth”. Only then can withdrawals can be made. Like Harvey Specter of Suits (Netflix) repeatedly said – Pay forward, do others a favour, have everyone owe you one!

5. System takes care of its own

Unflinching support & camaraderie is the hallmark of those who are tied together in the social world. We freely give, expect nothing & don’t hesitate to shout-out loud when in trouble. The community responds & instantly. The emotional strength & power it gives can only be “experienced” not “explained”. 

In the end, I know it that an award & a ranking is a privilege not an entitlement. It puts one in a position to make a difference which is a responsibility to be executed with honour & gratitude. Much like what William Penn said: No thorns, no throne, No gall, no glory, No cross, No crown!