Changing Practice

I have noticed two incidents recently where I have changed the way I would normally behave and I believe it to be because of the work we are doing on professional networks as part of this course.

The first incident regards 'face to face' networking. I recently had my opening night for 'Peter Pan' here in Malaysia. A big gala was held and the invited audience contained press as well as other important people. After the performance there was a party held to celebrate and also promote the show. As I said in my previous blog I usually hate this kind of event because I don't feel comfortable putting myself forward in these situations. I find it very difficult to 'schmooze' with people and would normally make a quick appearance after the show and then make my excuses and leave. It had never really occurred to me that by doing this I might be missing out on professional opportunities until I started considering professional networks.

In the past I have usually worked as an ensemble dancer in the jobs I have done. I think I sometimes used the excuse that 'no one would want to talk to me anyway so what was the harm in leaving early?' I think after consideration this again seems to stem from low self confidence. Here in Malaysia however I am playing Peter Pan so can't use my old excuses. It is expected of me to attend events and promote the show, so I thought to myself no matter how I feel I ought to make the most of this opportunity.

It then became apparent to me that I didn't know what to do? I had no real experience of networking at parties because I always avoid it. In my last blog I asked whether 'face to face' networking was a skill that people naturally have or whether it was something you could learn. Natalie thought it was perhaps something you could learn or at least improve upon where as Alana thought it was either something you had or didn't. I must admit I tended to lean towards Alana's way of thinking. Some people seem to be so naturally gifted at it and I so completely inadequate that I thought it must be a gift. Natalie's comment did however make me think. If it is something you can learn then how do you do it?

I have mentioned before that I believe I have a reflective learning style. I like to watch someone else do something first before I consider it and try it for myself. This knowledge led me to think about someone I professionally admire who I know to be good at 'face to face' networking.

The first person I thought of was a lady called Rachel Stanley who played Truly Scrumptious when I was in 'Chitty Chitty Bang Bang'. Not only is she a wonderful performer but I always noticed that she managed to lead the company incredibly well. She seems to be able to talk to anyone (I think 'seems' is a very interesting word here. It would be worthwhile asking Rachel how she actually feels about networking. Whether she thinks she has always been good at it, if she has improved at it or if she hates it but forces herself to do it).  She always comes across as charming, personable, intelligent and funny. All things that are natural parts of her personality but that somehow become heightened when she is in a professional environment. This idea reminded me of a video I posted on a previous blog of Rob Ashford (director/choreographer) describing what he looks for in someone when they audition. He said he thought that people should be heightened versions of their natural selves. Auditioning is something I have done a lot of and something I have become more comfortable with over the last eight years. I would say that I have definitely improved at it from constant practice. Is it possible that 'face to face' networking at a party is just a different form of auditioning and therefore is it possible to approach them both in the same way and improve ones ability?

I decided to try the theory out. I stayed at the party for about an hour and a half and spoke to a lot of different people trying to imagine I was at an audition. It made the process easier because I was continually aware I was working and that therefore whatever happened was not personal. This made me feel more secure and more in control than usual. I can't say that I loved the experience but I do think that having a way to approach it definitely helped, and that that it may well be something I can get better at if I am determined and also brave enough.

The second incident regards networking through technology and relates right back to the discussions people were having about Facebook privacy and reputation during the communication technology part of the module.

The show here in Malaysia has been heavily marketed and as part of that fifty bloggers were invited to a promotional event to advertise the show. The marketing team believed that inviting the bloggers was one of the quickest and cheapest ways to advertise the show. They said that if the bloggers liked it and blogged about it then it would "go viral". An interesting idea in relation to this course.

Since the event I have had at least ten bloggers request to be my friend on Facebook and now, since the show opened, I have even had members of the audience request me. My initial reaction was to deny the requests. I absolutely did not want these random people knowing things about my life. Then I thought about it again in relation to professional networks. One network I had not thought at all about until now is the one between me and my audience (not meaning to sound starry). In relation to this show and its marketing it would be advantageous for me to accept these people because it promotes my work to them and then through them to an even wider network.

A few months ago people were talking about creating a totally separate Facebook page for work. At the time I didn't feel this was necessary because I considered the majority of my colleagues and work connections to be friends as well, perhaps because of the intimate nature of what we do. Suddenly. however, I found myself in a situation where there were people who I wanted to accept but who I didn't want to know all about me or see everything on my page. I was still unsure about creating a whole new account though. I couldn't see how to easily do it because my stage and real name are the same. Also how do you move people from one account another or tell them you will only accept their friend request in a separate account without offending them?

It was then that one of the dancers in 'Peter Pan' explained to me that you can put 'friends' you have accepted on Facebook into different folders and then control what the people in that folder see. This was the perfect solution to my problem. It took me quite a long time to figure out but I have now created a folder within my current Facebook profile entitled 'work'. I have arranged it so that people I put in this folder can only see carefully selected professional photos and a short biography. They also have the ability to send me a message but they cannot see or write on my wall nor can they see any photos I am tagged in by other people.

Although I had thought about taking control of my reputation with regards to web based technologies it is only now that I feel I have started to implement these thoughts and decide who I want to see what. In doing so I am presenting a self controlled, professional image to these bloggers and audience members that is totally separate from my personal life. I am going to continue to create new folders within my Facebook account because I really like feeling in charge of the image I present to others.