You were having a nice day.
We were all having a nice day.
You finally nestled into your desk at work, your phone was at 91%, and you had some sort of warm beverage. You had second day hair and fun plans for later.
And then you got the notification: Your boss just followed you on Instagram.
Depending on the relationship you have with your boss, a myriad of questions might be running through your mind.
Is this really my boss?
Surely it’s just someone with the same name.
And cat.
Ok, this is probably my boss.
Why does s/he want to see my page? I guess it’s nice that s/he wants to learn more about my personal life?
Whoa: Is s/he resigning, making it OK for us to be internet friends?!
Wait, does s/he consider us friends already?
As a social media entrepreneur, one of the most common questions my followers ask me is: Is it OK to be following my manager on Instagram? Or, the slightly more complicated: Should I accept my manager's Facebook friend request?
The answer is unfortunately not black and white.
Whether you choose to be friends with your boss on the internet or not is entirely dependent upon your social media usage, preferences and behavior – as well as your relationship with your boss.
Here are the questions to ask yourself before accepting or rejecting a digital friendship with a superior.
- Are you using Instagram to share your career milestones, or is it more of a family or friends network? In other words: Are you a more private person who doesn't necessarily want your boss to know the details of your personal life?
If it’s the latter, approach your boss and politely explain that your page is reserved for family and friends, but that you'd be happy to connect on a more professional network. Whatever you do, don’t avoid the elephant (or, friend request) in the room. Make sure your boss understands the reason why you haven’t accepted them.
- Are you the person who feels tempted to live-Tweet your grievances while sitting in traffic? (I feel like we all know at least one person like this.) In other words, are you using social media as a stream of consciousness?
If this is you, A: stop doing this. (Judgment and restraint are the keys to the castle on social media!) B: It sounds like there are probably things on your social channels that your boss would be better off not seeing, so don’t open the flood gates. Remember: 92% of recruiters use social media when making hiring decisions, so clean up your page and/or keep it private before it affects your employment.
- Is your work status/employment going to be improved by your social media activity?
Let’s look at the other side of the coin. Having a dynamic social media page can be a tremendous asset to many companies. It can show that you’re capable of crafting compelling stories, creating attractive content – and perhaps most importantly, building a community. If you work in a field where those are valuable attributes, letting your boss see that you have a great feed with a built-in audience can potentially be extremely beneficial.
- Do you have to change your online activity now that your boss is following you?
Not necessarily. Your boss has likely followed you for the same reason anyone else has: They like what you’re posting and want to learn more about you.
That said, “Google before you Tweet is the new think before you speak.” If you’re not already operating your social media channels with this mentality, the day your boss follows you is the perfect time to start.
