MaestroJ - digital strategy & new media

When I speak to people about Twitter, those that are unfamiliar often have a single, exasperated objection – “I don’t get it…why would I want to find out what someone is wearing/eating/doing/feeling all the time”. It’s a valid point, and more experienced users have discovered that those people who use Twitter exclusively to broadcast the mundane details of their lives aren’t as popular as those who broaden their conversation into other things, like professional events/ideas/and projects as part of their work.

But how do you draw the line? What terrifies CEOs the most about online social profiles is the transparency that it brings. It’s an unprecedented level of access and some would say, over-exposure that blurs social boundaries and hierarchies. And while it’s funny to hear of the occasional senior executive (the new MI6 head no less) being “exposed” on Facebook , in our own ways, we have as much to lose as they do. Calling in sick then posting drunken photos online while you’re Facebook friends with your boss, tweeting that you hate your job are very real examples. There is also the other end of the table as well, do your “real life” friends necessarily want to hear about what you did/accomplished at work, when work is often specialist and subject specific? What if you had a job that was generally perceived as “boring”?

There is a common sense argument that can be applied to all this. Obviously it would be against your better judgment to post confidential and legally sensitive information about your company; or personal information like financial details and security – sensitive data (credit card numbers). But it is in the blurry middle area that begs the most questions – do your work colleagues really need to see you holidays snaps where you and your partner get a bit silly; Do your friends really want to hear about how you increased 0.25% of your department’s bottom line for the quarter?

Harvard Business Blog wrote about the concept of “shaping serendipity” – that by exposing aspects of yourself and your specific interests, it makes it more possible for others to share relevant information with you. It also allows like-minded people who share those interests to access you easier.  By letting others know what you’re about, it’s easier for them to decide whether they want you as part of their network and what value you could provide them, and vice versa. It also lessens the possibility of more random and less relevant connections in your network. Exposing your passion could help you turn it into a profession, a personally satisfying and rewarding job which you care deeply about.

At the end of the day, individual preference will determine what kind of online profile you choose to present.  If anything, asking yourself the question will probably help clarify any short or long term goals you may have. Asking yourself the question will perhaps remind you why you are subscribed to a particular network/community in the first place. Perhaps, your personal and professional profiles aren’t as different as you first thought.