There’s a ‘line’ for a reason…

Crissy Lintner

Social media has created a conundrum for businesses. Where is the line when it comes to an employee’s professional life and personal life? How can an employer protect its image when an employee uses poor judgment on Facebook, Twitter or another social media venue? And, is it an employer’s right to dictate what an employee says – or posts – on a personal, yet public venue? 

Case in point – recently, NBC News featured a pretty darn bad military faux pas from some National Guardsmen at a fallen soldier’s funeral. Now, I’m not really sure why any of these individuals would think it OK to silly-pose with an empty, flag-draped casket then post to social media, but they did. And, one took it to an extreme in her post saying, “We put the FUN in funeral.” ::jaw dropped, shaking head in dismay:: 

This is a case that was clearly an “on the job” moment, and I’m sure correct funeral protocol and behavior was taught in training – but was etiquette for selfies and social media included? And, can you account for immaturity of these members of our military? Unfortunately, no. The National Guard took immediate action to reprimand those involved, which was the correct move to make.  

Regardless of what employers want when it comes to employees’ personal social media use or whether employees prefer employers to stay out of their business, there is a line that exists between appropriate and inappropriate commentary on social media. Where crossing that line becomes a problem for both parties is when it reflects poorly on the employer. Otherwise, most employees don’t run into issues for complaining about a bad day at work, a difficult client or an off-color remark. 

In today’s example, I have no explanation as to why a member of the U.S. military would ever feel she could freely dishonor a sacred, important duty like serving at the funeral of a fallen comrade. To quote Forest Gump, “Stupid is as stupid does.” But, companies should clearly outline policies regarding social media and train their employees – department by department, person by person – on what is considered unacceptable and what could negatively impact their careers. 

Here again, the question arises: where’s the privacy line? Well, maybe it’s not about the line. Maybe it’s about an employer taking that extra step to acknowledge, “We know you have a personal life outside of work, and that is fine. But as a general life rule, think twice or three times before you post because social media is never 100 percent private, and you cannot guarantee what will and won’t be shared beyond your circle of trust.” 

So, my quick tips to employers: 

• Be clear about your expectations when it comes to social media use. Create a policy regarding both the company’s and its employees’ social media usage.
• Specifically outline at what point or why an employee’s personal social media activity could be detrimental to his/her career and what action will be taken.
• Acknowledge your dedication to maintaining privacy of your employees with regard to social media, and offer them guidance on what they should do with regard to social media as it relates to their employer. 
• Consider a social media etiquette workshop that is applicable to both the professional and personal sides of life.
• If deemed appropriate, require a statement to be included prominently in the “About” section of their social media pages. We suggest something to the effect of “Opinions are my own and do not reflect that of my employer.” 
• Remind employees that if they want to ensure their social media use is mostly private, be sure to engage higher privacy settings and be cognizant of what is publicly posted. This doesn’t always mean that something they post on Facebook wouldn’t be shared with the employer by a “friend,” but it makes the probability less likely.
• For businesses whose employees may frequently connect with clients, media or other external audiences through their personal outlets, remind them that they can set privacy settings to only show some posts to certain people and always be cognizant of their audience if they choose not to use these restrictions. 

What are your tips for employers when it comes to social media policies? featured a pretty darn bad military faux pas

How to Win Angry Birds

Sarah Lichterman

Yes, I am referring to the adolescent video game, Angry Birds, which is a popular item in the iTunes app store. The skills needed to defeat the game are similar to the skills you need to avoid becoming an “angry bird” when dealing with frustrating situations. For those unfamiliar with the video game, click here to watch this how-to video that explains the game.

In the world of public relations, a normal day when everything you had planned goes accordingly is rare. Due to this, PR professionals need to be ready to deal with frustrating situations. According to an article on NBC news, a PR executive is the fifth most stressful job following enlisted military personnel, military general, firefighter and commercial airline pilot. One of the reasons this career can be stressful is because you have to flexible when problems or urgent matters occur. 

Flexibility is a trait that is rarely natural, but easy to learn. It starts with awareness. If you decide to go into the field of PR, you need to be aware that you have to be flexible. Let me repeat that for emphasis: you have to be flexible. You have to assume that most plans will not go accordingly, and you have to have a back-up plan. 

In the game of Angry Birds, you have to strategize on what type of bird will be used, in what order and where you are going to fling the birds in order to win the level. There are two main goals per level that you can craft your strategy toward: completing the level with the goal of moving to the next level or beating the level by obtaining the most possible points. 

Imagine you have been playing and replaying a level for 30 minutes, and you finally have done well enough to be able to complete it by strategically using the one bird you have left to destroy the somewhat difficult target that remains. You’ve carefully chosen which bird would be used, and your finger is on the screen carefully placing the bird in the perfect angle to hit the target. And then, your dog runs into the room, jumps on your lap and interrupts your game. You lift your finger off the screen, letting the bird fly aimlessly into oblivion and failing the level. This would be frustrating, right? 

In this type of situation, you need to remain calm and focused on your goal. If you get upset or give up, you have not only failed the level, but you have turned into an “angry bird” and failed yourself.

When a frustrating event of this kind happens in the PR profession, you need to be extremely cautious of your next steps in order to avoid being an “angry bird.” When you get an email from a client about a pitch you have been working on with a reporter for a week, and they decide they don’t want to discuss that issue, your first reaction may be to reply in frustration, using words you would probably be apologizing for later.  Let’s be honest, we all have typed out that extremely rude email reply that we had no intention of ever sending. 

However, your reaction to a frustrating situation with a client, co-worker or reporter really can make or break you. There are many different ways to relieve this stress quickly so you can get back to your job and be productive. Also, there are many ways you can manage your outlook on your workload and be proactive in avoiding stress. Below are some helpful tips to be aware of and utilize to help relieve stress at work. Click here to to read the complete article on Forbes.com.

1. Act Rather Than React
2. Take a Deep Breath
3. Eliminate Interruptions
4. Schedule Your Day For Energy And Focus
5. Eat Right and Sleep Well
6. Change Your Story
7. Cool Down Quickly
8. Identify Self-Imposed Stress
9. Prioritize Your Priorities
10. Reset The Panic Button
11. Influence Others
12. Be Your Own Best Critic

So, the answer to the question, “How do you win in Angry Birds?” is simple. Learn to be flexible when a situation arises, be cautious of your reaction and accept that you have chosen to endeavor on a task that requires patience. Whether you are flinging birds or trying to get the word out there about your client, these pointers can help you to succeed in stressful situations. On the upside, even though a career in PR can be stressful at times, it is very rewarding because it gives you the unique opportunity to be creative, learn a lot and make change happen!