Professional
Communication:
Online

Show me that smile again…
Interpret this photo…
Photo courtesy slate.com
Introductions
•
Your name and organization
•
How are you using online communication/social media for
work?
•
What question do you most want to have answered today?
What is
“online communication”?
Objectives
Develop strategies to ensure communication is civil and
professional
Identify new ways to use online tools to benefit your team,
department, and organization
Build a list of best practices for effective online
communication
Pros and Cons
What are the pros and cons of using social
media on the job?
Customer Service
How have you seen great customer service delivered
electronically?
What is the customer’s preference for communication?
Are you Facebook “friends”
with your boss?
50%
50%
1. Yes
No
Ye
s
2. No
Are you Facebook “friends”
with coworkers?
50%
1. Yes
50%
No
Ye
s
2. No
Is it okay to receive personal
email through your workplace
account?
50%
1. Yes
50%
No
Ye
s
2. No
Is it okay to vent about work
online?
50%
50%
1. Yes
No
Ye
s
2. No
Is it okay to post something
negative about a coworker or
student online?
50%
1. Yes
50%
No
Ye
s
2. No
Is it okay to post a photo of a
coworker online without their
permission?
50%
50%
1. Yes
No
Ye
s
2. No
What’s happening at Mason?
http://www.gmu.edu/
A Supervisory Conversation
Questions to discuss:
What if it’s on my phone/iPad/personal computer, even during
work time?
What if it’s on my break/lunch?
Others…
Your Strategy
Must be intentional.
Supervisor or team determines: this is what we’re using and
how.
Do you have a vision?
Join the conversation
Online is two-way - don’t forget the customer.
Monitor or mediate?
Transparency
• “We already know that anonymous letters are
despicable. In etiquette, as well as in law, hiring a hit
man to do the job does not relieve you of
responsibility.”
-Judith Martin
Civility
Build Best Practices
Related Policies
Use of Electronic Communications and Social Media (VA 1.75)
Standards of Conduct (VA 1.60)
Your agency’s Responsible Use of Computing policy
Perhaps others?
Find the full policies at:
http://www.dhrm.virginia.gov/hrpolicy/policy.html