Friday, December 26, 2014

Social media is a step by step effort


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According to a recent study, it takes only 300 tweets to know one's personality. So, when a recruiter is checking out your knowledge and skills on social platforms, they could also look for derailment factors like behaviour, interests and interaction style.
Reference: Work on social media skills to be a leader.  

Whether or not you aspire to be a leader, the advice Neha Singh Verma documents in her article is worth reading carefully.  In summer 2011 I began a concerted effort to draw on social media for my projects, participate actively, and learn conscientiously.  It took a year or so to grasp this 21st century phenomenon, to find my rhythm, and keep evolving as I go forward.  It's a step by step process, and I always emphasize at the outset: Begin with the end in mind.  That is, clarify what it is you're trying to accomplish or trying to get out of social media.  Then, it's a methodical, reasonable (i.e. sustainable) effort as you swim in it.  At the end of the day, social media is no longer an option, but a necessity for the modern day leader, professional and staff.

Wednesday, December 24, 2014

CEOs must wake up to social media


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Peter Aceto, the CEO of Tangerine, recently said in The Globe and Mail, “I would rather engage in a Twitter conversation with a single customer than see our company attempt to attract the attention of millions in a coveted Superbowl commercial.”

This is the preference of a truly social CEO. Unfortunately, chief executives that embrace and understand the promise of social media are rare, so rare that we call them “blue unicorns” in our book A World Gone Social. Why blue unicorns? Because CEOs that embrace social as much as leaders like Aceto are still so uncommon that we aren’t just looking for any unicorn, we’re looking for a specific color of unicorn.
Reference:  The 7 Attributes of CEOs who Get Social Media

Methinks authors Ted CoinĂ© and Mark Babbitt way overstate their point about what Peter Aceto says.  A well-crafted, well-delivered commercial during the Super Bowl can spell millions of dollars for a company, which would take an arduous, undoubtedly impractical effort to nurture one customer at a time on Twitter.  But their suggestions are all points very well taken.  In truth the potential audience on likes of Facebook, Google+, Twitter and LinkedIn far far exceeds that of a one-night Super Bowl.

So any CEO who neglects, denies or otherwise dismisses this truth needs to wake up and sidle out of the rock they've been sleeping under.  But as one former manager said, If the people won't change, change the people.  CEOs who remain incapable or recalcitrant vis-a-vis social media will simply fade away in the sunset, as more savvy, plugged-in CEOs take up their proper places on the mantelpiece.

Monday, December 22, 2014

Manage negative comments constructively


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In general, social media is a positive, informative and enjoyable forum for business people and their customers.  But because some people are prone to be negative for a host reasons, we must deal with whatever comments emanate from fingertips we cannot see.  The six pointers, and additional tips, above are very good.  Besides keeping our cool and reading the message carefully, I like the idea of taking a screen shot.  At the end of the day, however, you as a business person must clarify what it is you're trying to get out of social media and what your protocol and values are on commentary.  Then, it's about deciding accordingly, and reviewing, perhaps modifying, your decisions over time.  

Friday, December 12, 2014

Latest Mean Tweets from Jimmy Kimmel


People are very quick to tweet unflattering things, but it’s important to remember that everyone has feelings. From time to time, we ask famous people to read some of the not-so-nice things that are tweeted about them. This is our 8th edition of Mean Tweets featuring Gwyneth Paltrow, Lena Dunham, Gerard Butler, Ty Burrell, Bob Newhart, Britney Spears, Geena Davis, Chris Pratt, Chloe Grace Moretz, Scott Foley, Michael Chiklis, Ted Danson, John Stamos, Lisa Kudrow and Adam Sandler.
Having celebrities read mean tweets about them not only humanizes them, but also dilutes, I think, the venom in those tweets.  Plus, there is existential comedy in them.

Wednesday, December 10, 2014

Saving articles and videos on Facebook


I haven't been thrilled with all the changes Facebook has made over the years, but adding a save function on the articles people are sharing is right up there with the best. It's exactly what it sounds like: A way to save a shared article for later, whether later means just reading or eventually sharing it yourself. And you can access everything you save on your main Facebook rail under the heading Saved.
Reference: Thankful for social media: My favorite tools, platforms.

I appreciate this bit from Chicago Tribune writer Scott Kleinberg.  I used to collect newspaper and magazine articles of interest diligently, and I would organize and store them in my study.  I have continued to do so, except that in the last several years, I've migrated from hardcopy to softcopy.  In fact I collect to a much greater degree now because of my conceptual and practical work, that is, links across any of my several journals.  With particularly crucial articles, I copy and paste them for my personal reference and annotation.  While not all posts on Facebook can be saved, I really like this function, because it helps me collect interesting articles and videos. 

Monday, December 8, 2014

Avoid any threats on social media!


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Even if you’re confident that a post won’t be interpreted as a threat, you’ll still think twice about making a borderline post if your fate depends on prosecutorial discretion and an expensive and possibly dicey jury trial.

It bears noting that even if Elonis dodged a criminal threat conviction, his social media posts could still cost him his job, contribute to a restraining order, and alienate his family. In other words, even if we have the legal right to make edgy social media posts, we will remain accountable for our words in many other ways.
Reference: When Does Social Media Chatter Become Criminal? Previewing The Supreme Court's 'Elonis' Case.

Forbes contributor Eric Goldman illuminates the legal ramifications of what we post on social media, especially threatening words.  We know by know that some people use the internet as a forum for spewing the very dire, ugly and hateful that well inside their little hearts, and they engage others in vicious repartee in kind.  Impassioned debate or constructive argument is one thing, but I simply advise against engaging in something that would not pass muster even in minimally polite company.  Even more strongly, I advise against any semblance of threat onto others, property and animals on social media.  If you must vent, do so in your private journal, that is, offline or do so via constructive means like exercise, sports or games.