If you aren’t familiar with the term, James Cameron’s blockbuster movie of the same name should at least give you a frame of reference. In the story of Avatar, incredible technological advances have enabled scientists to give humans the ability to take the form of super creatures who possess extraordinary strength, agility and sensory perception.
So, where did the name Avatar come from? According to Wikipedia, in Hinduism, an Avatar refers to the descent of a deity from heaven to earth. In English it means incarnation, appearance, or manifestation. My question is related to your personal identity in social media communities. What identity are you projecting? What’s your Avatar?
Many of us try to project a different (better, bolder, smarter, more attractive) image of ourselves in social media communities. While most would agree that it is a good idea to paint a picture of ourselves in the most flattering light, others do not seem to care. Or, maybe there is a wide range of definitions as to what constitutes the “most flattering light”. This past weekend, we were at the beach on the Fourth of July and my two year old grand daughter took off her diaper and started parading around naked. She was oblivious to the disapproving glances of others while she reveled in her nakedness.
Most adults know that unless you belong to a nudist colony, it is not appropriate to be seen naked in public. However, it would seem that some people have a very different notion of what is appropriate in public when they are online.
For example, the other day, I was looking for a YouTube video and noticed a comment that someone made about one with a woman standing in front of a large sign. The comment was, “I want to see your t___s”, which is a slang term for a woman’s breasts. This person obviously felt it was perfectly appropriate to write something like that for the whole world to see. Another acronym I see quite often online is WTF. If you do not know what expression these initials represent, I am not going to spell it out. Just ask someone-they’ll tell you.
Another type of behavior I have observed online is when people get into arguments over politics or religion. These people may feel justified because, by sharing their beliefs, they identify themselves as members of a particular group, be it political, religious or any other type of “tribe”. Certainly, there are advantages to such affiliations. However, there are bound to be others who do not agree with their point of view who may very well be people with whom they want to develop a professional relationship. The point I am trying to make is that many people don’t seem to realize or care about how the world sees them online.
Maybe people feel some sort of anonymity online which gives them freedom to behave in ways they would not otherwise behave. I often think this is the case when drivers behave rudely on the road towards other drivers. I can’t imagine that they would dream of doing or saying the kinds of things they do in the car if they were standing right next to the person.
I have also seen several LinkedIn profiles for men who are looking for professional jobs and yet, they are dressed in a t-shirt. Now, I realize that business attire has become far more casual in the last couple of decades. Perhaps you are in a job field where suits and ties are not worn. Maybe you have no desire to work in a corporate environment. However, most of the recruiters, hiring managers and Human Resource executives I have known screen candidates based on a first impression no matter what type of job it is. What kind of first impression does it make when the candidate is wearing a t-shirt?
We have all seen or heard stories of people whose Facebook pages contain pictures of themselves partying like rock stars. One can only wonder how these same people are going to feel about having those pictures floating around twenty years from now.
It is illogical to me when women put a provocative picture of themselves online and then complain because men seem to be “stalking” them. What did they expect? I fully expect some push back from readers when I suggest that whenever a woman shows her cleavage online, unless she is the actual product she is selling, she runs the risk of creating a real “branding” problem for herself and/or her business. Of course, many marketing experts see no problem in using sexuality to capture the fickle attention of online crowds.
In today’s fiercely competitive marketplace, professionalism, business acumen and credibility are more important than they’ve ever been. Think about it for a moment. Every image of you, every word you type and every interaction is captured for all time online.
In my opinion, it is important to treat people online with consideration and respect. The notion of “civility” comes to mind. According to Wikipedia, civility refers to behavior between persons and groups that conforms to a social code within the construct of a society.
You see, what happens online stays online; forever. And the sum total of everything that exists about you online makes up your Avatar. But, remember, the Avatar you create for yourself today may not be the one you want people to see tomorrow.
Here are a few guidelines for creating an Avatar you can be proud of for years to come:
- Use photos you wouldn’t mind showing a client, prospective boss or superior
- Use language you would use with clients and superiors (no swearing!)
- Ask for clarification before taking offence-it is easy to misread something online
- If you disagree, disagree respectfully
- Don’t “push” your products, services, or agenda
- Find ways to compliment others (i.e. knowledge, ideas, writing, products, services)
- Contribute to others (knowledge, ideas, support, resources, etc)
- Recommend others on LinkedIn
- Give others exposure by following them on Twitter
- Give others exposure by retweeting, Friday Follow (Twitter), links, etc.)
Essentially your online Avatar is another word for your brand or image. So, what does your Avatar look like? Someone who is knowledgeable? Someone who has something to offer? Someone who can be trusted? Someone who is interested in others? Someone who would be great to do business with?
What do you think about online Avatars? What guidelines would you recommend?
If you would like to contact me, you can do so by visiting my LinkedIn page or emailing me at susan.fronk@bestbizpractices.org.
Posted by: Susan Fronk
