Why Twitter Works
One way to be heard...or you could tweet
I was asked this question at a recent workshop and my answer was; it’s a stroke rich environment. Simples.
In Transactional Analysis a ’stroke’ is defined as a unit of recognition and we all have a need for recognition as an essential human hunger (Berne, 1966). I know the term ’stroke’ has a medical meaning, but in this context it refers to the act of recognising our self or others. Think of it like stroking a cat; if you move from head to tail you might get a little buzzy purr and a happy kitty. Go from tail to head and you can lose a finger. Cats know all about strokes!
Twitter provides us (I like tweeting) with a chance to be heard and to be acknowledged. We don’t have to be saying anything smart, we can just be present and can have our existence validated.
All of the smiles we get, the banter and the electronic ‘hugs’ are real and genuine strokes. People on Twitter bank them, share them and relive them as their timeline flows and people comment and laugh and cry together.
If you’re sitting at home looking for a job, or in an office on your own, or raising children, or simply wading through the daily treacle of life, you too can have as many healthy strokes as you need.
Twitter is for real people. It works because when you write something you are noticing yourself first and that’s a good source of strokes. It works because you can have company when you’re physically isolated (stroke deprived). It works because people hand out strokes freely and the networks of Tweeters support and encourage each other.
There’s a big bonus too. Increasingly people are using Twitter as a source of business because people buy from people and chatting is a great way to develop relationships. I’m not talking here about the spam from multi-level marketing organisations (mlm) who can make you rich by clicking here!! (If it was that easy would I be writing this and would you be reading it?) What I mean is good old fashioned networking; talking to people, making friends, gaining trust and then doing business.
All these strokes can be great for our health and well-being and for our bank balance too.
And you can have all this for free. Twitter works because real people can really be present and get real, healthy strokes. Find me on Twitter at @RichardMaun and tell me what strokes you need. We can have a Twitter #strokeparty.
Tagged as: How To · stroke · Transactional Analysis · Twitter
Richard – You have hit the nail on the head but “strokes” is something I came across 20+ years ago when I had a Saturday job at Woolworths. We were encouraged to stroke, metaphorically of course, our customer.
Thanks Vicky and I like your story! Stroking the customer is always a good move and for me, strokes make the world go round…
This is a great way of describing the Twitter experience – works for me! I have gained several good business relationships through twitter now and one of those is a really big corporate! It has definitely been through the stroking and relationship-building elements of twitter that this relationship moved to e-mail and meeting! Good old TA – still so relevant today – I love it! With your permission I will now use the ’stroking’ benefits to encourage more of my cautious training colleagues to enter the amazing world of twitter, thanks!
Thanks Margaret and I agree with you about Twitter and relationship building, it’s a great place to get to know people. I’ve talked to delegates about the value of strokes and that has certainly encouraged them to see it as a heathly thing and made the point that it isn’t a ‘waste of time’..! And I like the way you take permission…go for it!
You wrote this for me didn’t you after our conversation yesterday. Thank you. Now I know exactly what you mean. Nice post and your photo on your site makes you look younger than your twitter photo.
Thank you Naomi and I like your photo stroke…and obviously please only look at my blog phot if it makes me look younger! Cheers and thanks
This is a good piece, I was wondering if I could use this piece of writing on my website, I will link it back to your website though. If this is a problem please let me know and I will take it down right away.
[...] let me know that he had finally secured a full time job and was grateful for my help. I banked the stroke and being a curious fish, asked what I had done that had really made a difference. He instantly [...]