I’ve got 13 and 15 year old daughters. They are absolutely growing up in a different world than I grew up in. Parenting by saying, “I didn’t have that as a kid so you shouldn’t have it either” is rarely a good plan. It’s just not realistic.

Face to face communication and our home phone was the only way I was able to communicate with friends growing up. For kids in my daughters grade it is not unusual to communicate via IPhones, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Snap Chat, Text Messages, etc. This is how they communicate. While it is difficult and frustrating for me sometimes and while I think there certainly must be boundaries, this IS their world.

I get this. I really do. I’m really making an effort to understand it.

It’s also the world of many people in their 20’s who are entering the workforce. This is not a post, however, about the potential problems that communicating almost exclusively online can create. That’s another post for another time. It is simply a post to say that when it comes to your work, your online life matters. And, since it IS Wednesday I guess it’s time for another Core Value!

So, here we go, Core Value #5: As a leader my team must know that:

Their personal social media or web presence represents me, our team and our company. It DOES matter what you say and do outside of this place. If you question it, DON’T SAY, WRITE, POST OR ACT ON IT.

That’s a long one. Sorry.

I made this one of my core values b/c, obviously this was something that I saw was becoming a problem. For whatever reason, it’s just so easy for people to post stuff on Facebook that they would NEVER say out loud. To put pictures on Instagram that they would NEVER put in a frame at their cubicle or on their desk. Wouldn’t highlight a particular picture at work but have no problem posting it for all their “friends or followers” to see online.  They have their “work” life and their “online” life. This is a distinction that many people make today. While many people make it, however, it should not be a distinction made by great people on great teams.

For me, this just makes sense. I’m not here to police you. I’m not here to watch your every move. Here’s the deal though, I want to lead a team that is proud of what we do and what we stand for. I just want you to think about how you are representing yourself online b/c it is a reflection on me, our team and our company. It just is.

I would just ask my team to think:

• Will this post represent me well? (If No. Then don’t send)
• Will this post represent my company well? (If No. Then don’t hit send)
• Will this post conflict, in any way, with what my company stands for? (If Yes. Then don’t hit send)

All 3 of these questions must pass the test. There comes a time when it’s simply not all about you. It’s about something bigger than you. And when you work for someone else, you represent someone else. That means that sometimes you keep your personal opinions to yourself. That means sometimes you keep the pictures of your birthday party celebration to yourself.

Listen, as someone who has led teams and made hiring and firing decisions, let me just tell you: HR is looking at your social media accounts before they hire you. I have not made hires b/c of an applicants online profile. HR is looking at your social media (or they should be) after they hire you.

This isn’t prying, it’s protecting.

• Protecting the company.
• Protecting their reputation.
• Protecting their standing in the community.
• Protecting the culture that we’ve worked hard to build.

I won’t belabor the point. Just think about this and realize that it really is bigger than you think. Make it bigger than you. Take the lead on this issue and encourage those on your team to do the same.