Run the Checklist
By Sanya Weathers
Your mood is temporary. Google is forever. Also, screenshots are forever, hard drives are forever, and…you get the picture. Every single thing you commit to the internet has the potential to haunt you for the rest of your company’s existence, and possibly your own.
If you don’t already know, do not ask how I know this. They say if you can’t be a good example, you can at least serve as a horrible warning.
Here’s a little checklist to follow before putting your fingers to your keys. Like most things that are good for you, it looks like an overwhelming hassle for just a little tweet/blog post/instant message, but if you do it each and every time you sit down to type, it will cease to be a matter of conscious thought.
– Who’s the audience? If possible, choose a specific person and imagine they are sitting in front of you in a coffee shop, hearing what you’re about to type. Typing to faceless masses won’t put you in a mindful mood.
– Who might be lurking? Now imagine that a total stranger is at the next table, not meaning to eavesdrop, but can’t really help it either. Are you okay being overheard? You will be. Even if you think you’re typing a private message, it will eventually be public if you’re a public figure.
– What context is necessary to understand your point of view? If the audience needs to be a customer in order to understand you, that’s fine. It might even tempt that total stranger to find out more and possibly become a customer. But if you’re snapping at someone who has spent the last year goading you, remember that your post is not going to have that context when it is reposted.
– What emotion is behind this? You’re not going to be angry in six months. You’re not going to be punch drunk from exhaustion in six hours. Posting may be the right thing to do, even in your current mood, but you need to think about how your words will read when your mood is entirely different.
– Know when to ignore the checklist. This is where the experts get separated from the amateurs. If you rigidly adhere to this (or any) checklist, you’re going to drain away all your personality and possibly your soul. Your customers won’t see you as a person, and if bad things happen they’ll cut you no slack. You won’t make enemies, but you won’t make friends, either. There is a time, place, and way to express emotion and opinion. If you know your customer base, and your target customer, you’ll be all right.
– Proofread. Even people who cannot spell themselves out of a wet paper bag will notice your errors and judge you accordingly. A typo in an otherwise brilliant piece is like a giant zit on a prom queen. Believe me – the first tweet I get in response to these blog posts is usually about a mistake. Remember what I said about being a horrible warning? Go forth, do better than I do, and rock your keyboard.
Your mood is temporary. Google is forever. Also, screenshots are forever, hard drives are forever, and…you get the picture. Every single thing you commit to the internet has the potential to haunt you for the rest of your company’s existence, and possibly your own.
If you don’t already know, do not ask how I know this. They say if you can’t be a good example, you can at least serve as a horrible warning.
Here’s a little checklist to follow before putting your fingers to your keys. Like most things that are good for you, it looks like an overwhelming hassle for just a little tweet/blog post/instant message, but if you do it each and every time you sit down to type, it will cease to be a matter of conscious thought.
– Who’s the audience? If possible, choose a specific person and imagine they are sitting in front of you in a coffee shop, hearing what you’re about to type. Typing to faceless masses won’t put you in a mindful mood.
– Who might be lurking? Now imagine that a total stranger is at the next table, not meaning to eavesdrop, but can’t really help it either. Are you okay being overheard?
– What context is necessary to understand your point of view? If the audience needs to be a customer in order to understand you, that’s fine. It might even tempt that total stranger to find out more and possibly become a customer. But if you’re snapping at someone who has spent the last year goading you, remember that your post is not going to have that context when it is reposted.
– What emotion is behind this? You’re not going to be angry in six months. You’re not going to be punch drunk from exhausting in six hours. Posting may be the right thing to do, even in your current mood, but you need to think about how your words will read when your mood is entirely different.
– Know when to ignore the checklist. This is where the experts get separated from the amateurs. If you rigidly adhere to this (or any) checklist, you’re going to drain away all your personality and possibly your soul. Your customers won’t see you as a person, and if bad things happen they’ll cut you no slack. You won’t make enemies, but you won’t make friends, either. There is a time, place, and way to express emotion and opinion. If you know your customer base, and your target customer, you’ll be all right.
– Proofread. Even people who cannot spell themselves out of a wet paper bag will notice your errors and judge you accordingly. A typo in an otherwise brilliant piece is like a giant zit on a prom queen. Believe me – the first tweet I get in response to these blog posts is usually about a mistake. Remember what I said about being a horrible warning? Go forth, do better than me, and rock your keyboard.