Getting Focused: Social Networking vs. Professional Networking

Interesting enough, there are entirely too many people on face book and twitter that are trying to claim celebrity names along with large company names such as Dell Inc. Imposters, as they say, are trying to make some form of profit off of taking these popular names, some have even been willing to trade the name for some benefit of their own. One celebrity states that they you have to hire someone in order to keep on top of the game, just so someone don’t steal their name/brand. All of this cyber squatting seems to be causing nothing but headaches and problems for celebrities and companies.

It is important to develop your business’ identity online; here are several reasons why: brand recognition, reach potential customers, customer retention, expansion, reputation, stand out from crowd, and consistency. Each of these gives your business an advantage to those who do not have an online identity, leaving you a step ahead of the rest. You want to be well known for what you do, and what you have to offer. By creating your online identity, you have the choice of what you want others to know about you and what not to share.

Although there are businesses and celebrities creating their online identity’s, there are also issues in cyberspace. For instance, online pedophiles create fake profiles on different websites that intrigue young naïve children who don’t know any better; this is one issue that I don’t think anyone will be able to change.  Anyone can go online and create a person who carries characteristics of whom they wish to be in real life, and not who they actually are. A good way to avoid getting involved with someone pursuing such behavior is to not associate with those that you do not know, keep your information on websites private and don’t put personal information on the internet if you don’t want others to find it.

Social networking sites are meant to be for individuals to interact with one another regarding their personal/social lives – not professional. Professional networking sites such as linked in are for professional purposes only, including job or employer searches. This site is not meant for personal information such as what you did this past weekend. Here are some dos and don’ts for social networking: Do join groups selectively, don’t badmouth your current or previous employer, do go on the offensive, and don’t mention your job search if you are still employed. Now here are some do’s and don’ts for professional networking: Do use a professional photo of yourself, do connect to your real friends and contacts, do keep you profile current and up to date, Don’t use linked in like face book and twitter, don’t sync linked in with twitter, don’t decline invitations, archive them.

Constructive criticism in the workplace

October 9, 2012

The role of constructive criticism in the workplace is to provide feedback to employees regarding their job duties; when done effectively, this kind of feedback provides and employee with a realistic appraisal of his/her performance and the information and skills necessary to do the job correctly. It gives managers the opportunity to address minor issues before they turn into major issues. The word criticism is usually taken in a negative sense; however it is defined as “valid and well-reasoned opinions about the work of others, usually involving both positive and negative comments” (Webster’s online dictionary, 2012). As you can see, criticism in the workplace is not always negative; it involves both, the positive & negative aspects of your job performance.

I was previously employed by a nursing home in Saginaw; licensed as a CNA I was quite confident in my skills involved in assisting residents. Working with many other CNA’s I was able to view their skills on a daily basis. One night, working third shift, I witnessed another CNA attempting to transfer a patient without a gate belt. At that moment, I rushed over to help her finish the transfer. After she was done helping the resident, I took her to the side and discussed the proper way to safely transfer a resident from the bed to a wheel chair and vice versa.

The outcome of this situation was good; the aide took my criticism and applied it to her position every day forward. I never again saw her transferring someone without a gate belt. It not only helps the aide in the transfer but it also keeps the resident safer.

The only thing that I would do differently next time is request that all CNA’s have an updated training session on a yearly basis. This would prevent minor mistakes turning into larger ones.