‘Words are power,’ Yoko Ono once said.
I’m not sure what words describe the artist’s 1967 installation where she invited the audience to hammer a nail into a piece of wood.
In the audience was John Lennon who offered her five imaginary shillings to hammer an imaginary nail into the wood.
But still.
Two years ago I started to research Facebook groups and next month I’m helping deliver workshops that feature them strongly but one word above all always jars with me and I have to force myself to stop using it.
That’s the word USE.
As in the phrase: ‘How to USE Facebook groups’.
Because USE isn’t the right word.
We cannot USE.
USE is a single-use plastic wrapper of a word.
Facebook groups are places where like-minded people form an online community where there are admin to police them but people are largely free to start or contribute to a conversation.
So, you need words like…
CONNECT
BUILD A RELATIONSHIP THROUGH
LISTEN TO
RESPOND TO
While it’s important to use those words its really even more important to adopt the mindset those words mean. If you don’t, no-one gains.
I’m running a new workshop to help public sector people understand how to better use Facebook.
I’ll be joined by Sarah Lay for VITAL FACEBOOK SKILLS at a city near you.
You can see more and book here.