Leading from the Maze of social networking

I wonder if I am the only Generation X leadership consultant who knows that engagement with social media is the way forward, but just isn't sure whether the way is always forward?  I have been a diligent face booker for a couple of years now and in spite of the criticism that it is given by "serious" networkers (shallow, uninteresting, uninspiring, dangerous!!!!!) I have found face-book to be a great way to connect with a great many people who for some reason (known only to them) seem to find me interesting enough to read about (and even "like" on occaisions).

Yes of course as someone in the field of leadership development, I need to be cognisent of my brand and image when posting on Facebook and I need to manage my privacy settings, but generally speaking this form of social networking is FUN!  Which brings me to Linked In - what one of my colleagues calls "face-book for grown-ups" (not quite sure what that makes me).

What is so "grown up" about linked In?

Well here I am invited to parade my professional credentials like badges of honour and get connected with other professionals who are keen to expand their social networks.  There is also space for others to endorse my work and say what a generally "good egg" I am, which must be good, right?

Then, there's twitter....

This invites me to have fun (like Facebook) and parade my professionalism (like linked In) but to do so in 140 characters oh and while I'm at it be profound, interesting, signpost to other interesting things, be just personal enough so as to appear vaguely human but not too personal so as to bore everyone (no-ne actually cares that I am enjoying my coffee in Costa coffee.... I'll save that information for face-book someone is bound to "like" it there!)

And now my latest additions.....

Referral key..... now this looks interesting based on a form of "you scratch my back and I'll scratch yours" basically lets honour and appreciate each other and refer each other to our world of contacts in the hope that this will generate new business leads.  I can't pretend to know how effective this will be, but I can report I've genuinely enjoyed writing a series of "endorsements" for people I genuinely like and value professionally.

And then there's Pinterest......Now of course, I've had a go... but I'm not entirely sure how creating dozens of pinboards that others can "like" and add to and pinch things from with impunity, really adds to my social media presence.

So how do I lead myself through the social media maze let alone lead others?  What if I indadvertedly sign up to something that proves nothing but a "scam"?  Will I still be "liked" then?  I know I can rely on my faithful face-book fans to put my misdemeanours down to experience some will actually "like" the fact that I've lost myself in the maze of social media and feel there is hope for them too!  My twitter followers will have forgotten any error in an avalanche of other tweets about the X factor and the President (both it seems are equally fascinating).  My linked In contacts may be less forgiving (I really should have known better).  My Pinterest followers will ask me for a pictorial representation of my learning and my referral key endorsers may change their minds about my competence.

Yes, the world of social media is A MAZE ING  and I have a lot to learn.  I suppose I will do what I do in my own leadership, venture one step at a time, take reasonable risks, create possibilities, don't dwell on "mistakes" and at all times keep a sense of perspective.  The maze can be confusing and yes I might get lost, but eventually I'll find the exit of one maze (even if it proves to be merely the entrance to another)!