Facebook Quizzes Show the Real You… or Not?

I don’t know about you, but my Facebook news feed is constantly clogged with quiz results from friends. I now know what House they belong to in Game of Thrones, what state they actually should be from, and even the color of their “aura.” If anyone wondered, my answers are Tyrell, Texas, and green, respectively. What do these answers tell you about me? Absolutely nothing.

If you use social media to get to know others better, and in turn let others find out more about you, there are some easy and strategic steps to take to maximize your efforts.

1. Read and observe. You can sit back and recognize a pattern every Facebook user inevitably recreates. Do they post mainly about their personal lives, showing pictures of family? Do they consistently complain about things? Are they the cat meme person? Are they the funniest person you know? Patterns show passions, and people love to talk about the things they’re passionate about. If someone you want to connect with shows a passion for backyard chickens (no joke, I have these friends), learn more so you can engage in a meaningful conversation the next time you’re together.

2. Type it out, pause, delete it.  If you still think it’s a worthy post, type it again. There is nothing worse than a status created in the heat of the moment, especially if it ends up alienating a good portion of your friend list. Take your time when posting and think to yourself, “will this, in any way, hinder my efforts in my personal and/or professional life?” If the answer is yes, don’t post it. Facebook isn’t your diary.

3. Don’t be afraid to be you. But first, how do you perceive yourself? My good friend, Laura Rigas of Wise Public Affairs, often speaks at Leadership Institute trainings about the importance of developing your personal brand. Like it or not, your posts will force a decision by your Facebook friends regarding the type of person you are. Whatever it is you choose to be, be consistent.

4. Have fun. Living in Washington, DC, you probably assume that many of my Facebook friends are only interested in elections and public policy. While that is a big part of our lives, I must tell you it’s perfectly ok to have a sense of humor and share fun things. If you take yourself too seriously, nobody is going to want to get to know you offline. To quote a line from one of my favorite movies, “don’t be that guy.”

At the end of the day, your digital representation of yourself influences the decision of others to work with you…or not. Don’t let your late night rants on controversial topics ruin your professional life. The juice is never worth the squeeze.

Patti Simpson is director of political and career services for the Leadership Institute