This week has been an interesting learning experience for AZ Media Maven. I belong to a Facebook group of public relations professionals based in Phoenix, Ariz. One member posed the question of how much of your professional knowledge should you share with a colleague who wants to sit and “pick your brain.” As a former journalist, my goal was always to disseminate information as soon as I got it by publishing online, in the newspaper or, as times progressed,  posting to social media. If I learned it, I shared it.

That is considered taboo by a good portion – perhaps even the majority – of people in this field. I am not sure how to react. In response to the post, I suggested that sharing is a great way to learn from each others’ strengths, as long as we are not sharing confidential or proprietary client information. There were a few who clicked the LIKE button on my comment, but there were many more who said they were very cautious about sharing.

Sharing is caring

This same week I discovered a business that I chose to follow on Twitter, then on Facebook. Assist Social Media’s owner, Elizabeth, responded to a query that I made asking if we could talk business as it seemed we had similar missions and because AZ Media Maven is in Phoenix and her business is in Tampa, FL, we wouldn’t likely be competitors. Her response was “I share everything but the kitchen sink.” (You can visit Elizabeth’s business on Facebook or her web site at AssistSocialMedia.com ) We are having a conversation now about our businesses and how we might encourage each other.

Now who is right? It’s a personal choice, as is all that we do as professionals. But I can’t help thinking that as a start-up business owner, I am eternally grateful to those who are helping me learn by working with me, sharing their expertise and giving me the encouragement to stay with this fascinating world of social media and public relations. So in addition to Elizabeth, this is a thank you to Geri K.,  Roberto at Five Corners Productions and Carrie at Rock the Status Quo

As my business grows, I hope to be the one cheering on a newcomer with encouragement, and yes, what knowledge I have that might be helpful.

AZ Media Maven is based in Laveen, AZ, a suburban village in the greater Phoenix area. Owner Rose Tring has 25 years of journalism experience as an editor and writer, many of those years in business news. AZ Media Maven was created to serve other small business owners in learning how to best use social media.