Is Engagement Killing Engagement?: Raw Confessions at PubCon 2010

“Engagement” is wearing me down, and apparently I’m not alone.

At the PubCon LV 2010 conference, a keynote panel which included Scott Stratten, Chris Brogan, Sarah Evans, and Brian Clark was asked where they feel they have made mistakes or have failed.

Scott boldly and very humbly said, “I’ve failed at engagement.” I was confused. Scott is Mr. Engaged in my book. He continued, “I preach to people about engagement and I myself can’t keep up.”

Chris then chimed in that the 24/7 engagement has affected his family life and business. Sarah agreed that it has become very difficult to be there for everyone.

Brian said he originally started CopyBlogger.com because he was going to work from his home and be there for his family. Instead he finds himself in the house, but not really at the house. He feels the family is being neglected.

All of them asked the audience to send suggestions on how to manage engagement better.

I sat in my chair in awe and amazement, and feeling a bit choked up. They’re right. I’ve been feeling the same way for a long time but have been too embarrassed to tell anyone. I feel guilt over not being able to focus on anything or anyone because I’m trying to focus on everything and everyone. I thought I was the only one.

Not so.

I ran into Scott in the hall later that day and thanked him for being brave enough to speak out. He said it’s a very real problem and “People just aren’t talking about it.”

So what are we to do?

Maybe we all need to just admit we’re not super-human and be patient with each other. Patient when someone doesn’t respond to our email as quickly as we want, patient when someone doesn’t respond to our witty @reply or comment on our Facebook posts. Hopefully others will reciprocate.

And the first step? Perhaps we just need to be brave like Scott and fill in the blank:

“Hi, my name is _____, and I can’t keep up with the demands of engagement.”

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