Kim McGuinness .................................................................What Message will you Send in 2014?.........
Like it or not, you have a reputation, a personal one and a professional one. All the messages you put out on the
Internet, in person, on paper, combine to form a brand image to all who cross your path. Networking is not just about
the face-value of the person you shake hands with - it is the reputation and image that surrounds them.
These days your image can and will follow you. It is logged, documented, diarised, collated and Googled. In the future
your grandchildren will be able to Google you. Your children, or your parents, may be doing it now!
These days, your professional reputation and image is a lot more than just what you wear and how you come across. It
is about the entire package. Your actions, reactions and integrity are under constant scrutiny.
With the rise of social media and increase in communicative tools, managing your reputation is now critical. Your
online reputation could be affecting your real-world reputation in ways you aren't even aware of. Conversations that
you thought were deleted can still be accessed with the correct link or search phrase. Google never forgets.
It's no good espousing virtues that don't align with daily activities. There is no "what happens in Vegas, stays in
Vegas" in Google's world. Here are some ideas to bring your online and offline profiles into alignment.
- Mind your language
Social media has changed the way we communicate. Many conversations rely on words only with no signals to
indicate mood. You may write your message while smiling and laughing but without that facial expression to go with it
the message could result in a completely different outcome. Icons and punctuation such as exclamation marks can be
very useful but don't rely on these, change your language to suit the mood instead. - Hold off on the Send button
Appropriate communication is just as important as the message itself. Always read back your message and even sit
on it for 5 minutes before sending to make sure it comes across in the most appropriate way. We have all been at the
brunt of an email fired off in anger, either by us or to us, so this strategy can save us from future problems! Set your
email manager to send every half hour rather than immediately and you will mostly have the chance to review your
words if necessary. - Is your message consistent?
Check out your social media profiles and make sure they are congruent. There is a different tone that goes with
different platforms but your ethos and modus operandi should marry. - Watch your spelling
Finally, and at the risk of sounding like your high school English teacher, spelling is now more important than ever.
Yes, many conversations on mobiles and on Twitter rely on abbreviations such as gr8, r u ok? and lol but these
abbreviations do not have a place on platforms such as LinkedIn, email, blogs or even facebook.
When you communicate using only words, those words need to be correct, appropriate and grammatically sound.
- Post only what's important
Every post, every comment and every picture all contribute to a profile of what you are all about. Make sure you are
proud of every post. No exceptions. - Update your CV
Make a yearly habit to update your CV. Once you have established where you're going that year, take the time to
check all your online and face to face activities. Are they in alignment? If not, what needs to change?
You never know just who may be watching.
Kim McGuinness is founder of Network Central, supporting women in management since
1999 and http://www.networkingmentor.com.au. Kim is a leading speaker, trainer, MC and often
consults to firms looking for a more connected workforce. For more information go to:
http://www.kimmcguinness.com or http://www.networkcentral.com.au | [email protected]