Seven Social Networking Rules That Authentic Leaders Should Follow

A guide to interactions with other humans in the digital world

Photo: Krista Mollion @ Inbound 2019

First off, why am I writing this article?

Unfortunately, I feel compelled to define few best practices for social interactions due to the following:

• Blank Connection Invitations
• Spammy Connection Invitations
• Pitching in the Direct Messages
• Dropping Links…in people’s inboxes, groups, or as comments
• Trolling
• Ghosting
• Sexual Harassment
• Close-Minded People With Tiny, Non-Diverse Networks
• And More Bad Behaviors

Rule 1: Act Online Like You Do In Real Life

Why do some people believe it is acceptable to act in ways online that they would never dare to offline? It always surprises me. Remember that your online behavior is trackable and once you put something out there, it is forever. Even if you try to remove it, people may already have taken screenshots, reported you, or shared your post or comment. It is much easier to avoid conflicts by not becoming a keyboard warrior. Avoid topics that trigger you or may…