If you work in social, you’re exposed to the highs and lows of online life, day in, day out.
Social’s where the very best – and the very worst – of human behaviour gets amplified.
So this World Wellbeing Week, we’re looking at how social can be a more positive place for the people who spend the most time there (like you).
Admiration not envy
It’s said that comparison is the thief of joy. It’s one of the reasons that social media’s often in the firing line for affecting mental health – what ‘real’ person can compete with all those perfectly-curated filters?
And working in social doesn’t make you immune. It’s all too easy to slip into comparison mode when you spot a competitor getting better reach or engagement than your brand. Or even if you see your colleagues responding to inbounds faster than you.
Worrying whether you measure up is a natural human emotion. But instead of letting it sap your joy, try to turn those emotions on their head. Make a decision to be inspired by the people in your industry, instead of envying them or feeling inadequate. That way you can use what other people are doing to lift you up, rather than drag you down.
Repelling negative vibes
Working in social means you’ve got more than your fair share of negativity to contend with.
That negative side of social could be anything from legitimate complaints about your brand, to internet trolls stirring up trouble.
Those negative vibes can take their toll on you over time, if you’re not careful.
One way to counter negativity is with thankfulness and gratitude. So, if you’re responding to complaints, make sure you thank your followers – genuinely – for their feedback. Besides making you feel better on the inside, it’ll make your customer feel heard and appreciated, too.
Change your mindset on trolling
We all know there are some internet users out there who get a kick out of spreading hate online. Trolls are people who seem to enjoy picking a fight for their own amusement, and often hide behind fake accounts to spread their nastiness.
When you’re responsible for a brand’s social, it’s not always as easy as reporting and blocking trolls. For the sake of your audience, and your organisation’s reputation, you need to attempt to engage with the grievance that’s lurking behind their toxicity.
But even when you’re a pro, being on the receiving end can be tough.
Trolls need careful handling because they know when they’ve been blocked. So when you respond, it might help to try and look at the situation from another perspective. Remember how miserable the person hiding behind the keyboard must be if the highlight of their day is spreading abuse.
Fortunately, if your business uses a social media management platform, it’ll automatically flag up racist, sexist, or discriminatory language. That means abusive comments will already be on a supervisor’s radar, so you’ll have their support and backing to deal with it.
And if trolls are getting you down, make sure you share your feelings with a manager or a colleague. It can help a lot to offload and share what’s going on for you. Most of all, don’t forget, you’re not alone. There are always people to talk to. And if it’s a particularly tricky situation, you can work out a plan of action together.
Survive and thrive as a social professional
We’ve touched on a few ways you can look after your wellbeing online. But if you’d like to dive deeper into some new strategies for looking after your wellbeing as a social media professional: we’ve got a special webinar coming up.
Social media expert Hel Reynolds will be sharing her top tips in Under Pressure: How to flourish under the pressures of being a social media professional on 14 July at 11am.
It’d be great to see you there.
Sign up for the webinar here
