You might not say much about politics. You might avoid public debates. You might think you keep things neutral. But your online footprint is telling a story whether you like it or not.
Not long ago, someone decided to stick the boot in with me. They accused me of being “too political” after seeing me deliver a talk. Let’s make no bones about it: I don’t hide my politics. I’m proud to be called woke if that means I stand for equality, equity and the right for people to live without fear. I believe in celebrating and honouring our differences, not punishing people for them. We can recognise what makes us similar and learn from what makes us different.
That’s what makes us human.
And let’s be honest, I couldn’t really hide who I am even if I wanted to. I’m a pink-haired, tattooed, shamanic, lesbian author, speaker and coach, happily out, happily married and with my wife, Asha, for almost 28 years. I wear my values on my sleeve – and sometimes on my T-shirts too.
When I took a quick look at their own public footprint, it told a very different story. Honestly, scrolling through the pages they were liking and following sent a shiver down my spine – and not in a good way. Anti-LGBTQIA, anti-trans, anti-women’s rights, pro-Trump, pro-Reform, conspiracy pages, “anti-woke” broadcast channels… everything that screamed Nineteen Eighty-Four. It was double plus bad. No wonder they had an issue with me.
For me, this isn’t about politics. It’s about values. Knowing them. Owning them. Standing behind them. I’ll always encourage others to do the same – even if their values don’t match mine. We won’t find harmony by shouting each other down. We’ll only get there by learning from our differences instead of slating and berating them.
Your online presence is part of your personal brand whether you’re in business or not, and if you are in business, it matters even more.
A few questions to sit with:
• What story does your online presence tell before you’ve said a single word?
• Are the pages, posts and people you’re linked with aligned with the values you want to stand for?
• If someone saw nothing but your public likes and follows, what would they walk away believing about you?