It’s well known that a company or organization takes on the personality of the leadership group, and in turn that leadership group reflects the personality of the ‘hands-on’ individual at the top. This can be seen in sports, politics and everyday corporate life. The impact of a leaders personality will be either positive or negative. Rarely will you see a leader who has no impact at all, as that individual does not stay in place long.
One readily observable example is the Calgary Flames hockey team. After starting the season with a sloppy loss to Edmonton, by Christmas the team was struggling with a 15-18-2 record. It seemed the effort was there, but dispiriting loss followed by disappointing road trip saw the team out of the playoff race with the season slipping away. Since December 28 when a change was made at the top - GM Darryl Sutter stepped down and was replaced by interim GM Jay Feaster - the Flames have gone 22-8-6. The team is composed essentially of the same personnel, but the energy level has increased noticeably as has the confidence and poise that they’re displaying. The Flames ownership group saw that a change was needed, and made that change.
Staying on the topic of hockey, just this week we’ve seen yet another serious head injury to a hockey player. With the hit to Montreal’s Max Pacioretty by Zdeno Chara of the Boston Bruins, the hockey world is in an uproar. This is not a comment on the play, nor an opinion of the legality of the hit. Rather, it’s a question regarding how to view the leadership personality of NHL commissioner Gary Bettman. Mr Bettman appears to be a very strong willed and forceful individual, yet he and his leadership group continue to ignore opportunities to send a strong message to the players and the league regarding career-ending head injuries.
In both of these hockey examples, the person at the top has needed to consider the cost of making the decision, verses the cost of standing pat.
Sunday, March 13, 2011
Thursday, November 11, 2010
Online Image
BY SHANE HOMAN
The image that you present on Facebook or LinkedIn is your public face, and will be available to anyone and everyone that has access to the Internet. Your parents, your children, your neighbors and your fellow workers are your audience. In many ways you are displaying your own personal brand.
There are hundreds of social networking websites available to us now, from the Advogato site used by open source software developers to Zoo.gr, a Greek web meeting point. Many of us will belong to two or more of these sites and interact with other site members regularly. It is now very common for someone you have just met, or the HR manager at a company where you have just applied, to Google your name and follow the links to your various networking sites.
Think Before You Post
The pleasure we get from participating in a social network can sometimes cause us to let our guard down in the interest of having a little fun. All your Facebook Friends loved the pictures that you posted from your daughter’s birthday party. Why not post those pictures from the backyard barbeque with Uncle Jim standing on his head trying to drink a beer? The enjoyment we get from on-line Social Networking is resulting in the occasional miss in the area of how we portray ourselves to the general public.
As the website of the Office of the Privacy Commissioner of Canada asks, “What Would You Want a Friend of a Friend of a Friend to Know about You?” In the case of Facebook, it is very important to properly adjust your security settings. While you may have been careful with the pictures or video you have posted, it is easy to follow Friends of Friends and view any of their content that has been tagged with your name. Facebook continues to modify it’s security capabilities, visit your Privacy Settings and adjust them accordingly.
Consistency
It is also important to portray yourself in a consistent manner across your many social networking sites. Despite the fact that Facebook is a casual, family and friends network site, and LinkedIn is a professional, business networking site, a single Google search will turn up links to both. A ‘wild party’ image portrayed on Facebook will clash with the ‘focused business professional’ image that your colleagues or future employer will see on LinkedIn.
Be careful of who you accept into your social network, particularly LinkedIn. It is now becoming common for a hiring manager to contact one or more of your LinkedIn connections for a character reference. Make sure your connections are people you are proud to know, and who think well of you.
The image that you present on Facebook or LinkedIn is your public face, and will be available to anyone and everyone that has access to the Internet. Your parents, your children, your neighbors and your fellow workers are your audience. In many ways you are displaying your own personal brand.
There are hundreds of social networking websites available to us now, from the Advogato site used by open source software developers to Zoo.gr, a Greek web meeting point. Many of us will belong to two or more of these sites and interact with other site members regularly. It is now very common for someone you have just met, or the HR manager at a company where you have just applied, to Google your name and follow the links to your various networking sites.
Think Before You Post
The pleasure we get from participating in a social network can sometimes cause us to let our guard down in the interest of having a little fun. All your Facebook Friends loved the pictures that you posted from your daughter’s birthday party. Why not post those pictures from the backyard barbeque with Uncle Jim standing on his head trying to drink a beer? The enjoyment we get from on-line Social Networking is resulting in the occasional miss in the area of how we portray ourselves to the general public.
As the website of the Office of the Privacy Commissioner of Canada asks, “What Would You Want a Friend of a Friend of a Friend to Know about You?” In the case of Facebook, it is very important to properly adjust your security settings. While you may have been careful with the pictures or video you have posted, it is easy to follow Friends of Friends and view any of their content that has been tagged with your name. Facebook continues to modify it’s security capabilities, visit your Privacy Settings and adjust them accordingly.
Consistency
It is also important to portray yourself in a consistent manner across your many social networking sites. Despite the fact that Facebook is a casual, family and friends network site, and LinkedIn is a professional, business networking site, a single Google search will turn up links to both. A ‘wild party’ image portrayed on Facebook will clash with the ‘focused business professional’ image that your colleagues or future employer will see on LinkedIn.
Be careful of who you accept into your social network, particularly LinkedIn. It is now becoming common for a hiring manager to contact one or more of your LinkedIn connections for a character reference. Make sure your connections are people you are proud to know, and who think well of you.
© Copyright (c) Catalyst Solutions Group. All rights reserved.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)