Think about this question for a moment: "Why are you on Twitter right now?"
To grow your business? To keep updated on the latest breaking news? To problem solve? To share?
If you're not sure why you're on Twitter this very moment, then it's likely that you could become a more efficient user by remembering the lessons from Stephen Covey's The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People. To get the most out of Twitter, keep these habits in mind:
Begin each Twitter session with an idea of what you'd like to accomplish. Your goals need not be lofty. Maybe you just want to catch up with your tribe. Maybe you want to solve a small problem. Or maybe you have larger goals: to build your business or promote your website. It's too easy to get swept away in the stream of tweets. (Ever notice the Twitter Time Machine Effect: how 30 minutes easily becomes 2 hours?) Avoid the Twitter time trap by being in a proactive mind set, not a reactive mind set.
- Habit 2: Begin With The End In Mind
What, really, are you trying to accomplish with Twitter in the long run? Or better: What's the best possible outcome from the time you spent on Twitter? Your time is money: Are you getting your ROI from time spent on Twitter? If not, it's time to rethink your long-term goals.
- Habit 3: Put First Things First
Prioritize. Covey encourages us to think about the four quadrants of time management. Admit it: most of our time on Twitter is spent on activities that fall squarely in Quadrant IV: Not important/Not urgent--the least efficient category. Instead, focus your tweets on Quadrant II: Important/Not urgent--the quadrant that focuses on building relationships.
Herein lies the beauty of Twitter and social networking. Tweet links to blogs you find interesting. Tweet about what genuinely interests you. Retweet. Change your mindset from "What's In It For Me?" to "How Can I Help?" As any seasoned Twitterer can tell you, there really is such a thing as Twitter karma.
- Habit 5: Seek First to Understand, Then to be Understood
In the realm of Twitter, this means understanding the needs of your followers, and of the communities within your followers. Do a cloud search on your followers and ask, What problem are my followers trying to solve, and what solution can I offer?
Collaborate. Exchange useful information. Build your twitter tribe and interact on a regular basis. Dip into the wealth of knowledge that is the Twitter stream. Tackle an issue or problem as a group, not as an individual. And remember: the whole is always greater than the sum of the parts.
Read offline and share what you find most interesting. Acquire and practice new skills. Interested in learning more about wine? Then announce your learning journey and share your discoveries along the way with your tribe. Your tribe, in turn, will encourage you to continue your journey and maybe, just maybe, your dream of becoming a sommelier will be realized.
Finally, it's worth remembering that the Twitter phenomenon won't be around forever. Remember MySpace? After all is said and done, today's Twitter will become yesterday's MySpace. When you look back and reflect on the time you spent on Twitter, will you have a specific, measurable Return On Investment?
Michael Lara, MD practices near San Francisco, California. He writes frequently on the intersection of culture and medicine.
Recent Comments