What professionals need to do is understand how to leverage online communities and social networks.
Here are some ideas. Got any more? Add them in the comments below:
1. Leverage these communities and networks to gain
insights
a.
This is basically using the conversations that
are happening to get business insights that one can use in work. What do people
feel about your companies’ products, services, leadership? What are they saying
about your competitors? These communities are like large undirected focus
groups. Irrespective of what function you work in – feedback that you share
within the company shows your initiative and understanding of this medium which
is always a good thing.
b.
The other aspect of insights is to study the
demographics your company addresses and understand what are their other shared
passions and interests. This is very useful if you are working for a lifestyle
brand.
c.
Tools that help you do so: From free tools like Twitter search and
Google search to more complicated tools like social media monitoring tools that
have licensing costs (but can use for free for a certain time frame).
2.
Use social media to help you do your own job
better and faster.
a.
Once one is part of a community it is easier to
ask the community for suggestions on how to do your job better. Asking
suggestions on “how to” do things can give you insights that you never might
have considered.
3.
Use social media to share your learnings
a.
Without sharing confidential company information
you can share the learnings you gained to provide value to the community and
build one’s social capital.
b.
Sharing your insights and knowledge also
positions others to learn from you and be seen as an expert – helping you build
your own personal brand – that helps you in hiring team members in the future.
4.
U Use social media to learn
a.
With the rise of MOOCs (Massive Online Open
Courses) from sites like Udacity, Coursera, EdX to learn anything from the best
professors from the best university and a global classroom of thousands.
b. Find and participate in Twitterchats and contribute and ask questions to learn and interact with people in the community of practice. See this excellent article on how the #IndiaHRChat became a Twitter-MOOC by Tanvi Gautam. Also see the interesting integration of YouTube and Twitter by IndiaHRLive and Social Samosa's Twangouts
