I read an average of five articles from experts, leading in their fields, on a daily basis. It’s like hearing straight from the horse’s mouth! The authentic experiences from some of the industry leaders and experts are not only inspiring but also practical and humane – something that is surprisingly hard to come by nowadays. In my opinion being active on social media has now become essential for any leader or expert who wishes to stay relevant because it gives them access to such a wide range of people which they would never be able to connect with otherwise.
Crowd-sharing knowledge is a simple act of social responsibility.
In an interview with Quartz India, Chairman of Mahindra group, Anand Mahindra (and a popular face on Twitter when asked about his one productivity hack, answered the question thus:
“Twitter is my cockpit. When you have a federation like ours, with a number of companies and a massive geographical spread, it is almost impossible to figure out what is going on where. I am not on Twitter because I am lonely. I have a very nice life and I am very happy. This is not Tinder for me. I am on Twitter because this is a business tool. Any CEO who is not on it is probably ignorant.”
In an interview with CNBC here, the billionaire and founder of Virgin, Richard Branson said, “I love logging onto Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn and Instagram every day … Social media has opened up the world, and given the public the power to really have a say — it’s a wonderful thing.”
Sir Richard Branson and Anand Mahindra are two of the leaders with the most brand recall – they use social media to engage with their audience by sharing stories, campaigning for sustainable practices and boosting their employees by talking about them. They take their brand where the conversation is happening – to the social media, giving us enough reason to use social media, especially for personal branding.
The evolution of social media has enabled a new kind of learning. To learn from just about any leader, from anywhere in the world on anything you want- this was unheard of 10 years ago! You can find endless knowledge in seconds with Social Media’s open sesame to an unlimited educational experience. Adoption is key for taking advantage and using it as a tool to build your personal brand.
Here are some intrinsic ways:
Social Listening: Social listening is a modern form of keeping your ear to the ground. It allows you to understand new trends. Twitter, for instance, is an ambient tool. You have people from all across the business. Right from politicians, journalists, celebrities, entrepreneurs, influencers and most importantly, the public! It quickly allows an overview on what’s going on in the world. It can be used as a tool for lead generation too. And definitely one for feedback.
Learn: Some of the greatest leaders are always a student. In teaching others, we teach ourselves. When you share your learning, you consciously walk the talk and end up learning more. The great thing about social media is you get immediate feedback and various perspectives from others too, and in return, learn more. It’s humbling.
Share: With social media, you share your story of success or a failure and your experiences and expertise to a mass of people who could actually relate to it or learn from it. There will always be people going through similar challenges and circumstances, not just in your neighborhood, but in some other corner of the world, who could make use of your knowledge and wisdom. A little commitment and time to share goes a long way in helping people out. So if you know something well, pass it on, on social media.
Read More- Five reasons to create a compelling Personal Brand
