Comments on: Friends? Colleagues? Where’s the Line?

By: Heidi Massey

Heidi Massey — Thu, 10 Dec 2009 17:39:39 +0000

So when you are in Chicago, I will look forward to a long dinner with great food while it snows outside, my new friend/colleague!

By: Hildy

Hildy — Tue, 07 Jul 2009 21:25:14 +0000

WOW! Thanks to each and every one of you! The amazing thing I noted both here and on Twitter & Facebook, as I’ve tweeted & posted about this post: The number of responses and RTs and FB comments are HUGE when the topic has to do with our interconnectedness.

It goes beyond our needing each other; we ARE each other! We are like cells in a single organism that is this earth, this life.

Thank you all so much for being part of my life!
HG

By: Nancy Iannone

Nancy Iannone — Tue, 07 Jul 2009 03:05:55 +0000

I agree with all of the previous comments about interconnectedness and authenticity in our whole lives. I do find that the people in my life are drawn to connect in different ways. Long time friends and family tend to congregate on Facebook because more of them use it. Some friends and colleagues prefer LinkedIn or Twitter while others join in the Facebook fun (yes, the quiz says I am truly a loyal Hufflepuff).

They why’s and where’s of our connection don’t matter as much as the fact that we share our lives, our philosophies and our vision (with healthy doses of laughter thrown in for good measure.)

By: Steve Thomas

Steve Thomas — Tue, 07 Jul 2009 02:14:39 +0000

Hey Hildy,
One of the reasons I love reading you is that you are a deep thinker (and we are often thinking the same things ). Hoots and I are completely with you. We recently “came out” as married for some of the same reasons you describe–our professional life and personal life have very smudged, indistinct lines. BUT we are thinking there are concentric circles of familiarity. The closer we are to you the more you’ll know about us. New friends on FB wouldn’t know as much as friends we hang out with professionally, etc. Are you thinking the same?
st

By: Julia Rocchi

Julia Rocchi — Tue, 07 Jul 2009 01:45:25 +0000

SO. TRUE. I wouldn’t change a word of this, Hildy. You expressed what I’ve tried to explain to others for years.

A perfect example is my recent job search. I found a job in only three months thanks to innumerable lunches, coffee meet-ups, phone calls, etc. Everyone asked what my secret to successfully networking was. Was it Twitter? Facebook? Job sites?

Nope. My big ‘secret’ was being genuinely interested in other people’s lives and passions, and getting excited about the same things they did. There was no line; there was only me (similar to what Jenny said).

I don’t think it’s a matter of introversion or extroversion either. If you do prefer to draw a line between personal and professional, that’s fine — the principle still applies. Caring about other people leads them to care about you, no matter the context, and the virtuous cycle keeps going.

Now, that’s the kind of phenomenon I can get behind. Thanks again for a post well-said and well-shared, Hildy!

By: Jenny Hansell

Jenny Hansell — Mon, 06 Jul 2009 19:09:20 +0000

I agree with Hildy that there isn’t really a line. In my case, that reason is multiplied by the fact that I run a community center in a small rural town. My children come to work with me often, and have attended programs here. The people I hire as staff, who I recruit for the board, who attend programs, all come from the same community – I see them at the grocery store, the beach, the outdoor concert, the farmer’s market – at events I sponsor and those others sponsor. I used to find that a bit stressful – I felt I had to be “on” all the time. Now I don’t worry about it – I’m just “me” all the time. The professional me and the personal me are the same me. (I hope that doesn’t mean I’m ever inappropriate, just authentic!)

By: LaDonna Coy

LaDonna Coy — Mon, 06 Jul 2009 16:46:44 +0000

Hildy,

Just found you via friend and colleague @christineegger ans so happy to make this connection. I too find it hard to draw the line between the personal and professional – especially when it comes to social media – so I don’t even try! It is simply too hard and artificial to sever the two. While I can see areas where this becomes a serious challenge (like client-based services) for the most part it makes sense to be who you are both online and offline. You have stated the case beautifully, thank you.

By: Jeff Hurt

Jeff Hurt — Mon, 06 Jul 2009 14:38:22 +0000

What an eloquent and insightful way of presenting this topic of where to draw the line between personal and professional life. When and why in history did we decide that these were two separate worlds anyway?

Many years ago I worked hard at keeping my peronsal life away from work. Part of it was fear of rejection from my co-workers and bosses. I also didn’t like some of the people that I worked with anyway. Then I changed my mind and started to let my professional and personal live blend into one. It actually made my life better, richer and much more enjoyable.

Thanks for sharing.

By: Laura Livengood Schaub (InterLeafer)

Laura Livengood Schaub (InterLeafer) — Mon, 06 Jul 2009 04:57:00 +0000

Hildy, thank you for sharing this, and published before the chat was even over! Impressive! I loved what you wrote about business vs. personal; I have similar experiences and relationships with clients and former co-workers; and SM has allowed me to reconnect and keep in touch with the best of the best of all my previous lives in a way I never could have before. The combined energy of these connections sustains me. Thanks