Tweets, Posts and Requests: Mistakes with Social Media
7 Costly Mistakes For Professionals To Avoid With Social Media
There is a “learning curve” with new technology explains business etiquette expert Barbara Pachter.
According to Pachter, author of NewRules@Work: 79 Etiquette Tips, Tools, and Techniques to Get Ahead and Stay Ahead (Prentice Hall Press), she rarely has to remind people anymore to turn off their cell phones in meetings, avoid all caps in an email, or speak slowly when leaving their phone number on voicemail. These technologies have been around for a while.
Yet, she says, when new ways of connecting appear in the workplace, like Facebook, Twitter, or even the BlackBerry since it can connect you to social media, people make all sorts of mistakes when using them that can affect their jobs or careers.
It is only over time, Pachter adds, as etiquette experts weigh in and people learn from their mistakes that professionals start using these new tools more effectively and politely. In the meantime she suggests avoiding these 7 costly blunders:
1. Criticizing your employer. One woman recently posted on her Facebook page, “Attending another stupid work meeting. Can’t wait to get to the bars!” People are still posting negative comments about their company or boss on social networking sites. You can get reprimanded or fired because of it. Why would you bite the hand that feeds you?
2. Posting offensive photos and videos on Facebook or YouTube. Recently two Domino’s employees lost their jobs after posting a video of themselves doing unmentionable things to a pizza.
3. Not having a strategy if you don’t want to accept a friend request from a client or boss on Facebook. You don’t want to offend someone by denying their request. Think about the person and what would be the best way to say “no.” You can explain that you are saving Facebook for your family and friends and ask them to please join you on LinkedIn. You can ignore their request on Facebook and just send them a LinkedIn request. You can also accept the invitation and use the privacy controls to limit which sections of your profile they can see.
4. Using your BlackBerry under the table. People think you are ignoring them and there can be consequences. One company lost a large contract because their vice president played with his BlackBerry during a meeting with the potential client.
5. Sending ludicrous tweets on Twitter. I don’t need to read what you ate for dinner. Do I care? Be helpful to people so they want to hear what you have to say.
6. Placing your Blackberry or iphone on the table when meeting with someone. You are so ready to drop them and connect with someone else!
7. Not participating in Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter, etc. You are missing out. If you do not participate, you will never know how social media can help you and your business.
Barbara Pachter is a speaker, coach and author of numerous business books, including The Power of Positive Confrontation ($14.95, paperback, Marlowe & Co.) and When the Little Things Count ($13.95, paperback, Marlowe & Co.).
She specializes in business etiquette and communication for companies worldwide. Her client list features major organizations, including Microsoft, Pfizer, Chrysler, Cisco and Genentech.
