Should you Connect with Colleagues on Social Media?

Should you Connect with Colleagues on Social Media

     The pressure to take all of your real-life relationships online is immense. You may even be tempted to "friend" or follow your co-workers and bosses. But should you?

     Igloo software, which builds social software for Businesses, recently released its State of Social Media Report, focusing largely on how co-workers interact on social media (if they do at all). One of most surprising takeaways from the report: More co-workers are friended each other on Facebook than on LinkedIn.

     In sum, 91% of Igloo's respondents say they have colleagues, they have connected on Facebook, whereas only 41% did so on LinkedIn.

    Just over one-fourth (27 percent) of respondents say they used to connect with all colleagues. Women are less likely (21 percent) than men (31 percent); this suggests men may view social media connection as a means to network rather than forge friendship.

     Around 46 percent of respondents say that their connections on social media worry them, as they fear being judged for a post. For example; If you are connected with your colleagues, you might prove more reluctant to call out sick when you're not sick, then post pictures from a baseball game or a hike. Similarly, there's always a chance that those opaque social-media complaints about co-workers might be read by the offending officemate, which would really get awkward.

     Sub-tweeting about annoying co-workers may also be why ten percent of respondents say they don't follow bosses on social media; some 55 percent of people report they bite their tongue rather than posting in a social network, which scales to 61 percent of HR professionals. Around 67 percent of those between the ages of 51 and 69 turn the other social media cheek when annoying or awkward office interactions occur.

     In terms of your career, limiting your network exposure on social media is probably your best path forward. Rather than post every clever thought you have, act like everyone is watching- because they are.

     If you have any questions, let me know in the comment section.