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BLOGFive Social Media New Year’s Career Resolutions

by Randall CraigFiled in: Blog, Career Planning, Make It Happen Tipsheet, Social MediaTagged as: ,

1) Resolve to become more proactive:
Social media is a great resource for connecting with people, but it is the most powerful when it is used to “amplify” real-world relationships proactively.  This year, get in the habit of checking a connection’s profile before a meeting.  Get in the habit of recognizing others online for work done offline.  And get in the habit of asking a common connection to make a real-world introduction.  Social Media should not be a passive add-on:  it’s a key tool for both communications and engagement.

2) Resolve to separate the personal from the professional
Instead of thinking that Facebook is for personal and LinkedIn is for professional, consider what you actually use these (and other) tools for.  Too often, people mistakenly think that spending entertainment time is Social Media professional time.  It isn’t.  And the flip side is also true: you can’t possibly think that potential clients or employers are not doing their own due diligence on you throughout each social platform?

3) Resolve to diversify your approach to Social Media
Social Media should be used for support and growth, not just entertainment or job search.  In the olden days, support and growth could only come from in-person attendance at industry events and conventions.  Today, Social Media has incredibly robust discussion groups, question and answer areas, blogs, and the like.  Growing within these communities – gaining support and providing leadership – is a long-term professional investment.  You get the benefit along the way, and a network that will help propel you far beyond where you are now.

4) Resolve to not neglect the real world
While the online world provides an incredible depth of opportunity – relationships, support, information – it doesn’t replace the strength of real world relationships, even in the age of a pandemic.  Think what can be accomplished spending time, one-on-one, with a key connection at a local coffee shop or in a zoom catch-up.  Or think of the nuance that can only be seen when you’re face-to-face with your manager (or staff, or prospective client).  As you spend more time using Social Media, you can easily squeeze away these real-world interactions – when in fact, these interactions might be the key reason for your success.

5) Resolve to update your profiles
Just like you probably do with your old-style resume, look through all of the Social Media profiles that you have, and do a quick update.  Even those profiles that you rarely use (MySpace, anyone?) are indexed by Google and thus available.

THIS WEEK’S ACTION PLAN

These resolutions are even more important when you are thinking of how to grow your organization. This week, apply these five resolutions in the context of your key responsibilities. Start with one of the five: how might the organization be more proactive, more professional, more diversified in its approach, more in the real world, and always up-to-date?

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