You really don’t have to share an opinion about everything
When I was a kid, my dad would cross the road to the newsagent in his dressing gown to buy The Age and The Australian in the morning, and The Herald in the afternoon (before it became the Herald Sun!). He’d sit at the kitchen table with a highlighter, marking what stood out, cutting out stories and filing them away. If something really moved him, he’d write a letter to the editor — and many were published. I did think it was a little bit nutty and embarrassing at the time.
Don’t spray, stay or stray. Understand your audience
So you have some interesting knowledge and insights to share? That’s great, but don’t risk it falling flat because you haven’t found or understood your audience.
Know your stuff? Don’t be scared. Your insights matter more than you think
While laying our insights and opinions bare for anyone to see in social media can be a scary thing, there's plenty of upside. No matter what your job role is, or how senior or junior you may be, what you know will be valued by others. Here's how to identify the knowledge and insights you want to share.
The rules of civility and decent behaviour in social media. AKA what would George Washington do?
There’s still plenty of value in social media engagement, but it’s up to us to behave like decent, empathetic human beings in the process. Here’s my take of a selection of George Washington’s Rules of Civility to guide your thinking about the insights you want to share, finding your voice and nailing what you want to be known for in the social world.
Don’t be a passenger. Get in the driver’s seat with social
Managing your social media is just like being in a car. If you stay in the passenger seat, you’re at the mercy of the driver. The only way to truly stay in control and manage your impact and influence in social is to jump in the driver’s seat.
Don't be nice, ladies. Be social
Women have been conditioned to think being visible in social media is not a ‘nice’ thing to do. With this kind of negative self-talk going on, it’s no wonder there are still many women who haven’t considered using social to help themselves progress, personally or professionally.