SuperCompetent: The Six Keys to Perform at Your Productive Best

Chapter 14. Socializing for Success

SUPERCOMPETENT Hero Thinking:	I don't allow socializing to overwhelm my productivity, whether online or in real life.
SIMPLY COMPETENT Zero Thinking:	I'll just leave the Facebook window open, so my friends can IM me throughout the day.

Having children has shown me that it truly is a whole new world out there. When my daughter entered high school, she joined the choir and met a boy we'll call Chris. One week later, she received a "Relationship Request" in Facebook from him, which she accepted. Yes, you read that right: Instead of talking or calling or e-mailing or even texting, this generation of teens asks each other to go steady by sending a relationship request on Facebook. A few weeks later, Meagan broke up with Chris by removing the relationship link.

Let me explain. You can indicate on your Facebook profile whether you're married, single, or in a relationship. If you're friends with a person, you can claim to be in a relationship with that person and tag him/her; then Facebook sends a notification to the other person, asking for verification of that relationship. If you accept, that person now shows up on your Facebook profile, hyperlinked, for all your friends to see and click on to find out about your boyfriend. Mind-boggling but true. This generation is coming . . . into your workplace . . . computer savvy and wired.

However, social networking sites like Facebook aren't just for kids anymore. Web 2.0 has revolutionized online communication. ...