The Case for Facebook

Those opposed to social networking media say that collecting online friends and tweeting partners infantilises us, tethers us Matrix-like to machines and essentially dehumanizes its users.
As a manager, however, your Facebook page can have the opposite effect: it can make you appear more human.
In their recent Harvard Business Publishing blog article “What Does Your Facebook Page Say About You?” John Hagel III, John Seely Brown and Lang Davison argue against hiding your private self on your online profiles — even if they’re viewed by your colleagues and employees. They tout the benefits of listing your business accomplishments alongside photos from your recent family vacation. Among them:

1. You’ll be viewed as less remote.
The authors write, “Seeing a more rounded person can’t help but extend and develop professional relationships, furthering the trust that’s crucial to collaborative knowledge creation — the lifeblood of innovation.”

2. You’ll increase serendipity.
Serendipity happens when you find things you need while you’re not looking. According to the authors, “Exposing aspects of ourselves and our interests makes it possible for others to provide advice and recommendations to us.”

3. You’ll be in the “flow.”
In a world with so many sources of information available, how can you possibly keep up? One way is to create a two-way flow of knowledge between yourself and your online network. The authors explain, “Flows require reciprocity: why would you exchange a flow of knowledge without trusting me to do the same? Yet trust is difficult to build and maintain if we keep a significant part of ourselves hidden.”

These benefits aside, the article prompts a question: Is dissolving your personal and professional boundaries a good thing –or does doing so negate your authority? What do you think?

Thanks to Stacy Blackman for this Blog update.