In this episode, host Roger Christie explores: How should CEOs use social media when changing roles? It’s actually a really important question because no one CEO stays in the one role for life.
So what happens when you change? What do you do when your profile reflects one organisation, but then you switch to another? Or what do you do if your network is filled with people who represent your past role versus the present? How can you change your own engagement efforts and activities so that you spend your time with the right people?
It does require a little planning, but rest assured, it’s also very doable. And fortunately, I’m joined today by a CEO who has not only experienced this transition recently, but who also switched from a 14 year old organisation to a 140 year old one, as the current CEO of St John Ambulance Australia. He’s almost the ideal person to talk about this topic. Thank you for joining the Your Digital Reputation podcast, Brendan Maher. Tune in, take a read below and be sure to subscribe to the newsletter too so you don’t miss a beat.
Time stamps:
[00:00:10] CEOs using social media.
[00:06:14] CEO takes the social media reins. Emergency intervention and moderation.
[00:08:48] Importance of meaningful conversations online.
[00:12:17] Brendan Maher on transitioning his digital presence in his new role.
[00:19:15] Finding your purpose as a leader online.
[00:28:36] The power of digital storytelling.
In this episode, Roger Christie and Brendan Maher delve into the significance of understanding and defining one’s purpose online and why it matters, particularly when transitioning from one leadership position to the next.
Brendan shares his experience as a CEO and how moving from R U OK to St Johns Ambulance Australia prompted a reflection around his own purpose online. Roger emphasises the importance of this digital reputation strategic consideration, including the need to consider one’s purpose alongside profile, listening, activity, and network – the five drivers of digital reputation. By aligning these drivers, leaders can ensure that their social media presence accurately reflects their goals and aspirations and achieves the maximum value for the time invested.
A leadership transition is an opportune time to reflect on this and ensure that their online presence aligns with their new goals and key stakeholders. During a transition, Roger advises leaders to consider how their activity, network, and listening efforts can change to support their new purpose and mission. This may involve making intentional efforts online to build and maintain relationships in their new role and identity. When starting a new role, it’s important that leaders evaluate the relevance of their current network and identify any new key individuals who may be more relevant to their new position.
Listening to key stakeholders and creating the right networks can help leaders and their organisation uncover opportunities to share relevant stories and connect with their audience more effectively. Roger emphasises that by taking the time to listen and create the right networks, leaders will naturally come across opportunities to share the stories that matter to their network.
By staying engaged with what matters most to their stakeholders, leaders can leverage the power of social media and share stories and information in a meaningful, personal, and relevant way. Social media provides leaders with access and scale to connect with their audience more effectively than ever before.
Brendan shares from his experience that social media has played a significant role in storytelling, both for him as a leader and the organisation, by offering opportunities for people to relate to or see themselves in. By harnessing the power of social media and building the right networks, Brendan has found that his message can reach more people and connect with his audience more effectively.
Roger concludes the conversation by reinforcing that a leaders’ purpose and the ‘why’ are crucial in determining how they should allocate their time and effort on social media. By having a clear understanding of purpose, leaders can make informed decisions about their online activities and prioritise their efforts on platforms such as LinkedIn accordingly.
Follow Roger Christie on LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/rogerchristie
Follow Brendan Maher on LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/brendan-maher-53399b6
For more information about St John Ambulance Australia, head to: stjohn.org.au
Feel free to drop Roger Christie a note with any thoughts from this conversation. If you want more on all things digital reputation, be sure to subscribe below to the Your Digital Reputation newsletter packed full of advice, trends and the best leadership examples just for you.
