Leadership, Social Media, and You

Seems like there are changes weekly when it comes to social media – so many options, so little time….and in many cases, so little interest by leaders.

You are reading a blog now, so chances are you are involved with social media.  Unfortunately, many leaders have chosen to disengage, ignore, resist, or delegate learning about social media.  And in the process, they have dated themselves and stunted their ability to be at the table of meaningful discussions – and remain relevant with their learning.  I am not saying that leaders need to be the experts on their team when it comes to social media, but they need to understand what it brings to the table and how it can be beneficial to their work.

Why do leaders need to know about social media?

• It paints the picture of your company/product.  Only 11% of the population goes to the company web page to learn what it wants.  Search engines are where people start – and guess what comes up on search engines.  You need to know what picture is being painted and if it looks the way you want it.  You need to see it for yourself.
• It is where your team and prospective team members are talking, learning, sharing, and reading.  Recent Linkedin stats show that LinkedIn users outnumber similar demographics – education levels, income levels, influence roles – than the other top of mind business information sources.  You should be a part of the conversation and expand your learning as well.
• It’s changing how your teams and customers/clients interact (and it’s not going away).  There are over 200 “major” social media sites – I am sure the narrowed focus sites are hundreds of thousands when you add in the profession, special interest, and club sites that exist.  Whether it is a Caring Bridge site for a friend with health issues or an active discussion board for a technology company it has revolutionized how we obtain and share information.  Understanding how it works and its influence is important for leaders to remain current and relevant.

Be proactive – You may be just a spectator, but take the time to enter into the social media world if for no other reason to expand your own knowledge.  Not sure where to start?  Start with updating your LinkedIn profile and join a group.  Make it point pop in on the group each week to see what is being talked about – I am pretty sure you will learn something new.  If you are a little more bold, seek out a discussion board for your field or interest and post a comment - participation breeds interest.