Social Media & Leadership
- Mona Hyder
- Oct 6, 2020
- 3 min read
Social media presence refers to the content posted online and the manner of engagement we conduct on the different social media platforms. We should always remember that any information shared online can leave footprints that can easily be traced back to us.
It is an instantaneous, borderless commodity that connects you globally. As leaders, we can use this tool to our advantage by improving professional networking, educating, motivating our community members, creating awareness, promoting programs, and services. In this blog, I will be discussing some advantages and ethical challenges we face with social media.
“Social media are web-based communication tools that enable people to interact with each other by sharing and consuming information.”
The true impact of social media can be analyzed if we see how rapidly it has gone from being just an entertainment to being fully integrated into every aspect of our lives. This connecting tool presents the leaders with an outreach to a large number of audiences, which we have never seen in history before.
"Social media has, however, repurposed what it means to be a follower. ‘To follow’ used to refer to behaviour that meant to go behind someone else and so a follower would tread in the footsteps of a leader. It now implies a choice made by the follower regarding information or communications. The workplace choices made by followers are now much more selective, voluntary, multi-channelled and arguably better informed."
On a leadership level, I see this as a communication channel to get connected with people and listen to their needs. Many programs and projects can be developed by understanding the demand of different groups of people in the community. You do not only want to be part of the conversation but also be able to drive the narrative, and motivate the audiences.
Dr. Tony Slonim, President and CEO of Renown Health, shares the importance of social media and how it helps him reach out to his audiences.
Ethical Challenges
The rapidly evolving technology of social media poses constant ethical and legal challenges for the professionals around the world. I am guided by my organizational social media policy which is reviewed and updated frequently. These policies set clear guidelines for safe use of social media by all staff. Irresponsible use of social media can be grounds of unethical and unprofessional misconduct. Workshops and training sessions are arranged to educate the employees of the proper use of social media.
Irresponsible use of social media may have drastic consequences. Some of the most common risks include breach of confidentiality, careless tweets, cyber-bullying, a waste of time and resources, violation of personal and professional boundary. The type of communication and language used on social media should be aligned with professional and organizational goals and ideologies.
In this blog, I have highlighted importance of the appropriate use of social media by leaders. I have also mentioned a few ethical issues that could arise due to the misuse of this tool. Social media is here to stay and we should learn the best practices and implement them in our organizations. As a professional, I realize the importance of embracing this new channel to reach out to my community members. It is required of me especially, when it comes to educating and raising awareness within my community. I am very thoughtful, responsible, and conscious when I am posting something on social media, because I know the moment I hit the post button it will exist forever.
Reference
Holton, P. (2019). Leadership in an Age of Social Media. HR Magazine.
Nations, D. (2019). Serious Question: What Exactly Is Social Media?
Ontario College of Social Worker & Social Service Workers. (2020). Social Media.
Renown Health. (2020, April 28). The importance of social media in healthcare communications [Video].
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