Social media is a great platform to share your thoughts and gather new ideas. For some professionals, these platforms can boost their career; while for others, it could mean the end of their profession. Do not be one of those in the latter group. Make sure to avoid these four social media mistakes to maintain a healthy environment for your professional growth.

1. Talking Trash About Your Work or Boss

Putting out your rants for the public to see is never the best way to deal with your frustrations, especially if it has something to do with your job. Even if your post is hidden from your boss, an officemate might see and forward it to him. And even though that one post or comment does not hurt your current job, it could come haunting you later on. A future prospect employer might see the post and think that you’re not healthy for his company as you have the tendency to badmouth your employer when something doesn’t go your way.

2. Badmouthing Your Clients

Like the first one, complaining about your customers can have equally damaging effects to your reputation. Numerous social media stories involving waiters who took photos of poor tips and posted them online got fired for doing such action. Complaining about customers puts the company in a bad position. Most employers in Singapore do not tolerate that, so avoid posting such complaints on your social media accounts.

3. Posting Party Photos with Alcohol

You have probably heard stories that someone lost a job because of posting photos on social media with tequila on hand, or more like engaging in wild parties. Sometimes, people even post photos of themselves in company uniform, lewdly dancing and making offensive hand gestures. Some photos are best kept private. Before posting something online, consider if you would want your employer or colleague to see it.

4. Writing Something About Your Political Views

Working for a company also means representing them wherever you go and in whatever you do. As such, whatever you write and post online will now be reflected on the company you’re working with. Before posting any of your political views, think about this every time. Typically, political contents that swing extremely right or left are flagged as inappropriate by companies. The best thing you can do is to keep your posts wholesome or simply keep your political views to yourself.

On way to boost your professional image is by being mindful of your social media activities. As long as you keep these tips in mind, you will keep your job and your professional reputation intact.

 

Imagine you’re in an event. You bumped into an acquaintance and you said “hello.” You make a bit of small talk, and then the awkward pause. You just don’t know what to say next.

We’ve all been there—that moment when your brain just refused to generate ideas to talk about. Well, it’s time to make sure that the awkward situation never happens again. Here are five important rules that will transform you to a great conversationalist and possibly make you the life of the party.

1. Bring Up Old Memories

How many times you’ve started a conversation with “Hey, how are you?” This happens almost every time you meet someone somewhere. It’s as boring as it gets, because the answer you’ll likely get is ‘I’m good.’

Instead of falling into dead air after that, bring up immediately a great memory. For example,
“Hey remember the first time we all went to try ice skating at The Rink? That was so fun.” It’s a guarantee you’ll get a much better reaction.

2. Be Curious With the Person

Have a genuine curiosity and passion to learn from other people. One of the ways to get people open up to you is to ask them questions.

Listen carefully during the conversation and ask them questions. Don’t ask just for the sake of asking something. Make sure it’s genuine and thoughtful. You will know what to ask when you listen attentively to what they are saying.

3. Remember Names

A tried-and-tested way to show someone that you really care is to remember their name—not their last name but their first name. People respond better if you show them that you know them.

One easy trick to help you remember people’s names is to repeat it after they tell you. You can also try word association, where you try to think of a thing or a popular personality with the same name to help you remember the person.

4. Live an Interesting Life

Live the life you’ve always dreamed of, or at least inject something interesting to your everyday routine to break the monotonous activity.

For example, take a modern dancing class, enrol to a baking course, write a book, start a small business, travel abroad or go camping every weekend. Once you keep things interesting in your life, you’ll have countless of great stories to tell other people, which lead us to the next rule.

5. Storytelling

People can hardly remember details, but they can remember great stories. One of the ways to become a great conversationalist is to have amazing stories to tell.

Real stories are much easier to tell and sound more interesting than stories that are completely made up. Depending on what’s being talked about, bring up interesting life events that fits the context of the topic.

People are naturally drawn to good conversationalists, because they are always fun to be with. If you want to be this person, remember and learn these rules by heart.