Leverage social media to build expertise

If you view social media as just a place to post vacation selfies and muffin recipes, the idea of ​​using it for real professional development might seem ridiculous. But there are many ways you can use social media to build expertise, increase your knowledge, and expand your network without feeling overwhelmed.

To get real learning value from social media, you need to ask yourself these three questions:

What do I want to learn?

Want to learn more about your industry? Follow leading industry leaders on LinkedIn and Twitter to see what they’re reading and thinking. This will allow you to follow key industry hashtags on Twitter to discover great new resources. When you find interesting stories shared by colleagues online, do some further reading and listening to discover the best blogs and podcasts in your field. Think about the specific subfields and topics you want to learn about next, and focus your reading on that specific area so you can develop your expertise instead of learning too much and too little.

Also think about your skill gaps. If you give presentations a lot and are tired of those boring Excel pie charts, start looking at infographics on Pinterest to get ideas for better data presentations. If time management is always an issue for you, follow the latest tips from productivity experts on Twitter.

Leveraging social media to work in places like these will not only strengthen your professional skillset; it will also help you expand your network. By resharing the resources you find on LinkedIn and Twitter, you can find others interested in the same topics and build a learning community (more on this later).

When will I have time to study?

Social media can be an effective way to pursue professional development because it fits easily into your daily life. Yes, you can absorb a lot from the many conferences you attend throughout the year—but nothing inspires you to think in new and creative ways like a continuous learning process. Think about when you have the time and energy to learn, and what format will work best for your schedule. Then use your social networks to discover the information you want in the format you need.

For example, if you want to improve yourself while you're out at work, doing chores, or commuting, then listening to a podcast you've found is great. If you're using public transportation, you can read while riding. Subscribe to an RSS reader like Feedly and use it to subscribe to blogs in your field.

You'll learn a lot more if you actually spend your time reading or listening to the resources you find instead of scanning the latest headlines.

Who do I want to learn from or with?

Many of us learn best when we are part of a learning community. This is where social media really shines: since social media is a place to share ideas with others, it is a great way to engage in active listening with a community of people who want to hear your thoughts and insights in addition to sharing theirs.

There are many ways to find or form online learning communities. If you’re looking for a community of practice—a group of professionals who work with you and share inside scoop or best practices—you can find those on Facebook, LinkedIn, or even Slack.

To find a group that works for you, ask friends and colleagues if they're part of a learning or professional community that might be helpful in your specific career field. The clearer you are about what you want to learn and the types of people you want to learn from, the more likely you are to find a community that's right for you.

In my experience, the most valuable groups are smaller, invitation-only communities where every member knows at least one person. This not only builds the basic trust for people to ask questions that might be uncomfortable in a more public setting, but also creates the necessary trust to share difficult experiences and insider tips.

Having an intention about what you want to learn, when you want to learn it, and from whom can make social media a powerful and timely resource for your ongoing professional development. Yes, you still have room for snapshots of your breakfast food—but as you prepare to start work, remember that social media can help you reach your next career goal, too.

From: Yiyan