Have you connected with someone as a result of Facebook? Facebook has many purposes. You can gain new friends, use it as an outlet for public relations and marketing, and reconnect with friends you have not spoken to for a long time. Facebook can be addicting and at the same time many people want to build a larger group of friends. Consider these ideas for strengthening your friendships on Facebook.
Organize your friend list. When I began using Facebook I learned how to organize my friend list. I have people I am connected to placed in groups according to my association. For example, I have a family group, leaders in Christian ministry, business men, business women, coaching relationships, local connections, and one group of friends I have who I knew in my high school years. I then choose one group at a time to read their posts and make comments. I am more likely to stay focused as many of these people are also connected to each other and are making comments on each other's posts. This tip also helps me in managing my time on Facebook.
Recognize when to post a public comment or send an email. With Facebook, you do have the option of sending a slightly more private email. Be considerate on the language you use in a post. And also think about the topic being publically shared. You can also consider the feature of hiding your friends' posts on your wall. It is easy to forget that others are reading our conversations. And, those reading the conversation are only seeing part of who we are.
Know some instant chat etiquette. Not everyone likes the feature of on-line chat. Don't be offended if some one does not respond to you when you approach them using the on-line chat. Sometimes people have Facebook minimized or they are doing something else and don't really feel like chatting. People like to just observe others on-line, just like in a physical group setting. If you don't like the chat feature, you can change your settings so people are not able to approach you. When you do want to chat, start with a simple greeting like, "Hi, how are you today?" If you get no response, that is OK.
Living in an isolated location I have discovered that technology is a great way to build friendships. Life has also taught me that friendships are to be treasured. I use Facebook to stay connected with others with the goal of being authentic. Most days I am not able to go have coffee with a friend and still the need of being around others is present. Managing time on Facebook is sometimes challenging. Like many aspects of life, it is so easy to lose track of time. My goal is to remember that the technology is only one way to strengthen friendships.
To gain additional free suggestions and resources to strengthen your relationships, visit KJ's Cottage owned by Kelly J. Eveleth. Kelly shares her expertise from the perspective of being a Life Coach and Professional Educator. [http://www.kellyjeveleth.com]
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