Some great business blogging advice (and life advice) from Christopher Burgess of Cisco:
- You Are Responsible: There are no do-overs. There is an adage, “Once posted, forever toasted,” which serves to highlight the reality that your information, data and content will be available to one and all, seemingly forever, and it is guaranteed to revisit you sometime in the future.
- Abide by the Rules: Individuals are accountable for their actions. This is a basic tenet of public discourse and elucidation. Don’t share your company’s confidential data. Don’t speak about clients.
- Be Mindful: Your opinion may not align perfectly with those of others. Indeed the opinion of others may be diametrically opposed to your point of view. Be mindful and allow the difference to occur. This difference is your opportunity for dialogue, and dialogue is the avenue to understanding.
- Be Respectful: Treat others with respect in your responses and interactions. Sarcasm is seldom appreciated by the target of your clever wordplay and is easily misunderstood. Be direct and engaging. An individual has taken the time to share his or her thoughts. Listening to one’s customers and partners is the best way to gain insight into your successes and those occasions when opportunities for improvement manifest themselves.
- Be Yourself: Use your own voice. Don’t use a stilted or artificial approach. Decide early on whether you will be engaging with the corporate hat firmly and squarely on your head or if your voice will be yours alone. If the former, allow yourself to express your personal thoughts, but always keep them in context, as you are associating what you say with your corporate brand. If the latter, provide full disclosure when you mention your employer, so that all can understand your personal perspective.
- Be Honest. Nothing loses credibility faster than a mishmash of factoids or flat-out dishonesty in place of a direct statement. Honesty isn’t a suggestion, it is a requisite.
- Add Value: Above all, bring value to the table. No one is interested in a rehash of old information or methodologies. Bring your voice, perspective and solutions forward, and do so in a way that the audience can understand the value you bring to the table.
Read Christopher’s full Huffington Post column here.
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{ 1 comment… read it below or add one }
I read so many of these same articles about the same thing, and I think one of the key trends is to use your own voice to provide great content. I hope I can get a decent blog up one day and really be able to provide useful content, but for now, until I get more informed, at least I can give my honest voice. Thanks for the tips.