The New Communicators is a three-day series of events exploring the ways we communicate with each other.

Events are created by anyone and anyone can attend. It is an open forum for discussion, education and inspiration.

This year, let's explore the concept of Reciprocity.

2010 Theme: Reciprocity

Reciprocity is the social expectation that people will respond to each other in kind, benefit for benefit and harm for harm. This concept influences our social interactions, self expression, commerce, justice and more.

While organizing your 2010 New Communicators event, consider how reciprocity and unspoken social norms influence communication today.

Here are some topics surrounding reciprocity that we’ve been thinking about:

Fans, Followers, Connections

We expect replies to our emails and reciprocation of our connection requests. We become fans, followers, connections and ask others to do the same. Once connected, we become open to all manner of reciprocation.

  • How do we expect people to reciprocate?
  • What’s appropriate?
  • And how do we manage these exchanges in addition to the other hundred or so relationships we are managing in the non-digital world?
  • If we can indeed only manage a maximum number of relationships, what are we giving up to make room for these digital-relationships?

Open to the public

With our current level of connectivity and ability to reach far flung audiences we can reach new levels of collaboration. Sharing knowledge is reciprocated across the globe. Our thoughts, feelings, failures and successes posted to be shared, celebrated and scrutinized. We must now come to terms with the fact that this openness often spurs uninvited reciprocation.

  • Positive or negative, how do we deal with this feedback?
  • How can we evolve this collaboration?
  • What social norms influence these interactions?
  • What is our responsibility to those we are communicating with?

Reciprocation marketing

In our daily lives, we pay for goods and services expecting they will equal the value of our payment. Businesses develop elaborate messaging campaigns hoping we will reciprocate with our loyalty and our wallets. Once sequestered to one-way communication channels (TV, Radio, Print etc.), brand messages now infiltrate deeper into our lives and ask us to reciprocate their engagement in our personal communication channels. Our participation becomes part of a marketing agenda.

  • Is this intrusive?
  • Is it unethical?
  • Do people really want marketers in the social space?
  • What are the consequences of not reciprocating appropriately?

These are just some things we’ve been thinking about. In your personal and business life, how has reciprocation touch you and how have you touched others? Share your thoughts on this very human principle.