Checklist for officers

How can you most effectively use social media as a council officer?


Check what the policy is

Increasingly, social media is being accepted not as people talking to friends about TV shows but as a powerful professional development tool where you can gather insight, connect with fellow professionals and share and debate ideas. Check to see when you are fine to use it at work. As a general rule, use it when it can support your work but not get in the way.

 

Check the professional guidance

Many professional bodies are now issuing their own guidance that fits into their own professional standards. If you belong to such a body check to see what the profession-specific advice is.

 

Create the time

Check with your manager that it's fine to create some time to use social media for professional development. You'll be keeping up to speed with the profession and seeing what the issues are locally. A supportive manager should allow this if it does not directly impact on your day-to-day work.

 

Remember your digital footprint

What you post online will stay online forever, even with the 'right to be forgotten' legislation.

 

The more you put in the more you get out

The more you help people online by sharing, commenting or answering questions, the more people will engage and follow you.

 

It's okay to 'lurk'

Lurking is the act of following what is posted but always staying silent. That's fine and a majority of social media users do this. But if you do engage you'll get even more out.

 

Tweet using your work name or role

Some officers use social media as an integral part of their day job. They are open about who they work for. You may not have your employer's name in your social biography, however controversial comments made online could still result in disciplinary action.

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Checklist for councillors