In the Lead

I’m new to the social media network, but I’m noticing more and more the impact a digital footprint can have on a professional career.  I’ll be honest; I was weary of jumping off the cliff into social media because I was afraid of my digital footprint and its impact on me professionally.  What would be my online reputation?  What kind of footprint would I leave?

Then in the midst of writing this post, Jeff Whipple posted this on his blog.  I took it as a sign that I needed to continue writing.

My learning of social media began with a friend of mine, Sean Nash, who many of you may know online as nashworld.  Sean is one of the most forward thinkers I’ve known when it comes to transformational use of instructional technology in the classroom.  About 6 months ago, Sean challenged me to think about how I can make a digital footprint that means something.  That, combined with the push of my husband, and I jumped into twitter and this blog site.  I have already discussed on this blog how much I have learned through Twitter.  I cannot say enough how much I’ve grown through learning from the folks in my network.  It is apparent to me that social networking is what you make of it.  What you put into it determines what you get out of it.

But even more, I have become more aware of the type of person I am online.  Don’t get me wrong, I’m not saying I try to be different online than I am in person.  As a matter of fact, I’m the same passionate educator in person as you perceive through my writing.  I have noticed, however, that I am prone to make judgments about other people based on what they say through Twitter or Ning sites.  When this became apparent to me, I began to wonder why I do this.  Then it made be wonder what others believe about me.

Because of social networking, I am fully aware that the legacy I leave is more than how I do my job at work; it is about how I interact with others in the various capacities I wear my administrative hat.  I was fully aware when I became an administrator that I can rarely remove the “I’m an administrator” hat, even when in social situations.  When I’m sitting at a community table or attending a community event, I am always representing my District (even if I’m attending under a personal preference.)  One of the best leadership books I’ve read is James M. Kouzes and Barry Z. Posner’s, A Leader’s Legacy.  What hooked me into this book was the first paragraph of the introduction:

“When we move on, people do not remember us for what we do for ourselves.  They remember us for what we do for them.  They are the inheritors of our work.  One of the great joys and grave responsibilities of leaders is making sure that those in their care live lives not only of success but also of significance” (Kouzes and Posner, 2006, p.10).

I couldn’t have said that better myself.  My own challenge is to wonder if I’m leaving a digital footprint that also aligns with the legacy I want to leave.

Photos:

Josh and Footprints by Vu Bui on Flickr

Warsaw/Botanical Garden in Powsin by footprints* on Flickr

Works Cited:

Kouzes, J. M. & Posner, B. Z. (2006). A Leader’s  Legacy. San Fransisco: Jossey-Bass.