Who’d be an ideal speaker at your next school communicators conference? – SCN Encourager

I’d give the nod to Eddie Haskell.

Yep, that Eddie Haskell.

The fawning, wise-cracking iconic teenager from the “Leave It to Beaver” TV show from the early 1960s would be my choice.

One TV historian described Eddie as “unctuous.”

This was a brand new word for me so I can’t actually confirm or deny this for you.

All I know is that Eddie Haskell would’ve been a pretty fair school communicator back in his hey-day.

Granted, he would’ve been one of the more “oily” members of our tribe, but his ability to adapt his words speedy-kwik and quick-shift his countenance from a snarl to a smile was unique.

Eddie was on the slimy side, but he had an untiring spunk that somewhat balanced his unabashed insincerity.

That’s why I think he would’ve fit right in.

I can think of more than a few legislators I’d sic him after – and he wouldn’t have to change any of his ways at all.

The same can’t be said for All-American TV dad Ward Cleaver.

He’d have to change.

Unlike Eddie, Wally and “the Beaver’s” dad would need a transformation in 2015.

At first I didn’t think so, but a panel of social media experts in a recent podcast convinced me otherwise.

They said that today’s tech-driven, social media age have forced all of us  to come to grips with our “authentic voices” and every Ward Cleaver type in our midst are destined to struggle.

Apparently, maintaining the Ward Cleaver compartmentalized life enjoyed by so many in prior generations is nearly impossible now.

In the 1960s, Ward Cleaver could flip-flop between his –
• work & career life,
• traditional dad life,
• golf buddy life,
• traditional husband to June life,
• and his putzing around the house life.

But no more.

If Ward Cleaver was on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram – he wouldn’t be able to compartmentalize.

He’d have to be comfortable with his “authentic voice.”

And, according to the panel, each one of us faces this same crossroad.

If we choose to walk the social media path, we’ve got to pursue it with consistency, relevance, openness, and a willingness to let people connect with us for who we are.

No compartments.

If we choose to walk the anti-social media path, we’re turning our backs on fully connecting with the future.

So, there you have it.

You’ve got two choices: to social media or not to social media.

One way forces you to be yourself and drag your baggage around with you, while the other doesn’t.

Dang.

Now’s a fine time to find this out!

(I wonder what Eddie Haskell would say.)

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