There is no denying that social media is prolific in society today. Not establishing a social media presence nowadays is equal to career or brand suicide. Social media is where we get our news, where we search for products or services and how we communicate. From celebrities and political leaders to your grandmother – everyone is on the social media bandwagon. Social media is also where business is taking place now. If you want to leg up on the ladder towards the C- suite you need to develop these social media skills for leaders.

social media skills

Analytics

Social media can be used for more than just celebrity gossip or rants. It can actually serve as a powerful tool for analytics and predicting future trends. If your eye is on the C-suite than one of the most important social media skills you can develop is analyzing social media use and effectiveness. Social media analytics can help you define markets, find untapped markets and tailor your marketing to the proper channels. In fact, you can even develop future products and services based on usage and comments.

Crisis Control

Smart leaders also know that social media skills are needed both in what they post, what the company posts and what employees post. For instance, I worked with an organization that for years refused to have any social media presence at all. It finally took a large amount of negative publicity that they had no way to respond to for them to establish a presence. Social media skills for leaders should include crisis communications. Whether it’s product recalls or a well-publicized airline snafu – leaders need to be in the know on what to say and what not to say in these situations. The worst possible place to be though is not saying anything at all.

Responsiveness

Finally, social media can also be a powerful tool in your development as a leader. One of the most hidden social media skills for leaders is responsiveness. Leaders can get bogged down with emails, voicemails and meetings. Pick a social media channel – be it Twitter, Linkedin or Facebook and designate it as the resource for urgent communications that need an immediate response. This can also be where you communicate directly with customers or employees. Share your wisdom, motivation or relevant articles. By fostering a relationship you build trust which is vital to leadership success. The key is to make sure that your social media presence is consistent with your professional presence. Keeping a consistent presence with all audiences helps you build your credibility.

If you haven’t realized yet that social media skills for leaders are important than it’s time to climb out from under that rock! You don’t need to be prolific on every platform that exists. Know your market, know what they are using and meet them there. It will benefit you, your team and your entire organization.

I appreciate Diana Oliver joining me today with this guest post. Diana is a freelance writer, social media manager and copy editor. I’ve had the pleasure of working with Diana and using her knowledge in the field of social media to improve my reach and presence as well. Contact her if you’d like to learn more.