As a leader and CEO, you have to always be in the know of the evolving methods in people management. Every day, as we progress into the digital age, we welcome a society full of possible brilliant connections. How then do you make yourself a part of these ongoing interactions?

It can’t be denied that the social age has come onto us rapidly; as leaders, we have no choice but to adapt to it. If you’re a budding CEO looking to establish real connections with your staff, below are three steps you can take to become a Social CEO.

1. Start (Social) Networking

At present, millennials comprise about 15% of the global workforce. This is the generation that saw and experienced the steady rise of the internet. Through the years, millennials benefited from the ongoing developments of social media networks such as Facebook, Twitter and Instagram, to name a few. Social media has not only allowed them to establish connections with various people, but it has also become a place to discuss a broad range of topics from personal lives to work environments.

Nowadays, it’s important for staff to feel like they can approach their superiors. Keeping your lines open for communication makes you more accessible and makes them feel heard. Instead of just staying in the four walls of your office, try to connect with your staff, including on platforms they frequent. Know the basics of social media and establish your online presence. That way, you can better connect with your team, share your stories and goals in a more human way, further involve them in your vision, as well as give them the opportunities to voice out their suggestions. Given the less formal setting of social media platforms, leaders and their staff can engage in more comfortable exchanges.

2. Listen to Your Staff

There’s a reason why end-of-day reports are important, and that is to know your staff’s progress, goals and roadblocks. As a CEO, it’s good to understand that your staff are not objects you own. Instead, they are people you can look to grow with and who can help you bring your goals to fruition.

Whether it be praise, criticism, or a problem encountered during work, you have to be able to address your staff’s insights. Now, you might be thinking it’s a waste of time to go through each and every one’s EODs, so that’s where social media comes in.

The ever-expanding cyberspace has created various social media applications that make communication between different channels much easier. Through these applications, staff can feel closer to their superiors, fostering a friendlier work environment that addresses concerns fairly and objectively.

3. Be What You Advertise

The internet continues to empower people and offer them knowledge on how industries work. The emerging trend on self-care and appreciation has given rise to people knowing their worth, and not settling for less.

In line with this, you can’t fool your staff the way those before us did. If you claim your company to be this and that, you have to be able to live up to it. Your staff have their own expectations of your company and the work they’re engaging in, and nothing brings more disappointment to them than you and the organisation not meeting those expectations.

As a CEO, you among others know what your company is all about; its goals, objectives, and visions are essential to finding the right people to work with. The internet can be a cruel place, and if you portray your company to be something it isn’t, you’ll surely receive backlash, putting your company and yourself at a disadvantageous position. Learn to channel the empowerment and knowledge your staff have gained and turn it into positive energies directed towards achieving your goals.

If you’re someone who grew up on the more traditional ways of the industry, taking these steps may be a bit of a leap, but it’s one that’s definitely worth it. Times are changing, and so should we. We aren’t meant to remain stagnant, nor achieve success only with what we grew up with; we must be open to change and development. Be it with social media or people management, always strive to be better than yesterday. That way, we can keep going forward.

To your success,

Mario

[Visit www.mariosingh.com now to enjoy a FREE e-book of my latest “37 Essential Principles for Massive Success” when you subscribe!]