I met with a couple of women yesterday to compare notes on how we’re using social media. It’s a forum for discussing challenges and raising questions, plus some show and tell. It was only the second session for this evolving group; the format hasn’t standardized yet. In fact, instead of the six women who attended the first session, we were a more intimate group of three.

It turned into more of an updating our business/life status kind of session, which was deeply beneficial and rewarding in a whole different kind of social networking way. We hadn’t established a time frame for the gathering, so when one member brought up a question regarding twitter after the personal conversation had waned, I noticed it was getting late and excused myself. “You two are so much further along in this area. Why don’t you talk to each other, and I’ll take off?” I hugged them each good-bye and left the room.

Twenty minutes later the woman who had the twitter question called me to say her feelings had been hurt, that her question wasn’t regarded with import, and it felt bad. I heard what she said and explained. I told her, “I feel so inadequate when it comes to twitter that I thought I’d get in the way of your higher level discussion and understanding. I felt like the seniors were going to have a meaningful conversation and that I, as the freshman, should just leave.”

Because she took the risk of being vulnerable and letting me know what happened in her mind, there were three outcomes.

• We both more deeply appreciate each others’ sensitivities.
• We feel more bonded and trusting of each other.
• We see the need to establish a time frame around the group so everyone knows when it will begin and end.

I just love this woman, and am so grateful to her for not carrying around a resentment that would have been based on assuming that I was dismissing her.

Who do you need to tell a truth to today?