Social Business and Swimming

Today I took my daughters to the pool.  My youngest is taking lessons and is now on the swim team.  While in the past she has not been able to even come close to my oldest daughter’s speed, today, she exceeded it and won the races between the two of them!

Yes, even on my holiday, I think about Social  Business and how this analogy could help my clients! 

My oldest is  more atheletic and determined.  But her form was not the best, and she splashed more than stroked. She really doesn’t want anyone to show her how it is done, because she is so confident in her own abilities.  The youngest had been taught by someone more experience and glided through the water focusing more on her form, her goal, and the techniques and won the race.

I was thinking about this in regards to my clients in Social Business.  I see many companies who are so talented and passionate about their product and clients.  But with Social, they jump in the water and splash around their excitement.   They don’t have a plan, and they have not studied best practices, and so while the motivation is great, the results are not up to what they could be.

Then I have other clients who focus on learning from the best, practicing inside their 4 walls, and then begin their quest to better serve their clients.  Those companies who focus on their goals, their culture, and the way they reach their clients are winning today.

Which one are you?