We focus so often on what to do when things go wrong and not enough on when things go right. So that’s why I decided on writing about how to cheer on a social media consultant. Because if there is anyone who probably needs this cheering on, it’s this consultant.
Why? They are on the frontlines. That means they get a lot of criticism from your audience and people within your organization. Some of it is warranted. Most of it is not. And they have to take it all and let is slide off their back. It’s a lot to deal with.
But for a client who is supportive and cheering them on? They’re more likely to deal with all of this happily and for a much longer amount of time. So let’s talk about how to cheer your social media consultant on.
Start with a compliment
No matter what kind of conversation you’re having with your consultant, it should start with a compliment. This can help you in two ways.
The first is that it gives your consultant some positive direction. A consultant often doesn’t hear too much about when they are doing something right, and yet they hear a whole lot when they do something wrong. That tends to make someone just avoid doing something wrong. Giving them a compliment on something you liked gives them a positive direction forward and will encourage them to go further and higher in that direction.
But it also gains trust and makes them more open to any criticisms you might have. If you want someone to make real change and accept what you have to say, then you need to make sure they are open to it. Something as simple as a compliment can create that openness.
Praise them openly
Saying something in private is great. But saying it openly in front of others is so much better. There’s just something about it that gives you an extra boost.
Take some time during your team meeting to acknowledge wins. This tells your whole team what success looks like while also giving that team member the boost they need. Knowing what success looks like can make your team want to go after more of it. It’s honestly the single best action you can take to up the morale and productivity of your team. Because a team that’s chasing success rather than avoiding negativity is a team that is inspired. Inspired teams create magic and keep going after that magic.
Write a recommendation
A client lost their budget and had to part ways with me. This was when the client contact decided to write a recommendation for me. It was general beyond belief and didn’t even include the company I had worked for over the course of years, let alone anything I had accomplished there. To say this recommendation was useless to me is an understatement. I was more annoyed by it than anything. And no, I’ve never used that person as a recommendation.
If you’re considering giving a recommendation for your consultant as a way to cheer them on, do it in a useful fashion:
- Give the recommendation in an open forum: This can be LinkedIn or their website. You might want to ask them where it is most useful for them.
- Be specific: There’s a huge difference between saying, “They did a great job,” and, “Their work helped us increase our fundraising by 10%.” Specify their achievements and tie them back to business goals if possible.
- Use your company name: There are cases where an individual’s name is bigger than the name of the company that employs them. Just assume that this is not the case with you and include your company’s name in the recommendation.
- Write a recommendation when you are actively working with your consultant: Writing a recommendation when you are parting ways with a consultant is nice. Writing one when you are still actively working with the consultant shows that you are invested in their business. They will invest even more in you because of this.
Show respect
Honestly, the best way to cheer on your social media consultant is to just show them respect at every turn. Whether it’s not nickel and diming them when you re-negotiate the contract or actually listening to them when they give advice, these small actions can get big returns when working with your consultant.
In a world where those who work in social media are constantly treated without respect, a little bit goes a long way. And a social media consultant who is respected just naturally does better work for you. So it will totally come around full circle sooner rather than later.
How are you cheering on your social media consultant?