Business Training Seminars

Bart Gragg

Let's just be plain, old honest here. Blue collar workers and managers are the original and best social networkers you will ever come across. How can I say that when you rarely see them on Twitter, LinkedIn, etc? Because as I wrote in another article, the words 'social' and 'networking' are more meaningful than a place on the internet for people to meet. People use today's version of social networking as a means to fish for business.

I agree with Rob Becker's statement in "Defending the Caveman" - "Fishing was created by God because He needed something one step above doing nothing. It is also not cool for one guy to say to another "Wanna go sit down by the water and talk?"

What's this got to do with blue collar people and today's version of social networking? Plenty. Let's just start with the fact that they are the best networkers around. They go fishing (read: talk to people) with no expectation of favors. They get things done when no one else can because they have those contacts. Who wouldn't want their people to be more effective, productive and savvy about their work world? ('K, yeah, I know there are those that don't but forget about them...)

Here are just a few ways that social networking can help the blue collar worker or manager:

• Finding more sources for material and services. Look at John Deere's MachineFinder.com where farmers can not only look at videos of new and used equipment but begin to have a sense of community as they read about other working families and their history.
• Connecting with others to find projects to bid on. Most of the major trades groups have websites now, including places to post upcoming projects and positions available. They are also places to stay current with news in their industry.
• Connecting with others to find employment. Bill M., an out of work printing press operator, has to make a career change. He monitors Twitter, is on LinkedIn, and asks advice on how best to look professional as well as move into management.
• Discussing solutions for problems others never even hear about. There are experiences, and solutions, that will never be documented by writing. Usually they are talked about over a beer, or at a barbecue. It's a whole different ball game when you talk about intellectual capital. Can we create a community to share these ideas and capture this experience? I think we need to.

"So what?" you might say? "Everyone else does that anyway, no new news there!"

Two things - it IS news to THEM. Effectively implementing social networking for the blue collar worker and manager will drastically raise their credibility. It can also motivate them to be better at what they do. Let's face it, how often do you see a nice clean cut professional photo of a blue collar person on LinkedIn? Suppose, along with that photo went a well written bio? While we are at it, suppose then their boss recommends them on LinkedIn? What if your boss recommended you to the world on Linkedin?

If you want help in supporting a manager or supervisor, we should talk. Call me at 925.757.7473 and mention MVP Seminars.

Bart Gragg
Blue Collar University®

February 02 , 2010    Posted by: Bart Gragg    |    Add Comment    |    Comments(0)

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