I take your point – but I think there is room to be human within the boundaries of being corporate. If there isn’t, it’s the corporate line and voice that needs to change before engaging on the social web. I think this is evidenced by things like the Cabinet Office guidance on online engagement. Before this was developed we were legitimately at risk of breaking the civil service code – after this was developed we had endorsement to go out and engage. For some of us that didn’t really make a difference – we understood the consequences of what we were doing and hoped that we’d covered ourselves enough to at least make our positions defensible.

I’m all for pushing boundaries but they need to be pushed within the context of the corporate position – if they’re not you should at least be prepared for the consequences of what happens if you’re perceived to be behaving ‘unprofessionally’. … After all, Civil Serf wasn’t that long ago…

I never said that unprofessionalism is a good thing, quite the opposite. I think my post makes it clear that being unprofessional will turn off an awful lot of people.

What I am saying is that many see a professional response being one that sticks to a corporate line and voice. That won’t always work on the social web, as we know.

We’ve all seen countless examples of people taking what they think is a professional line on the social web – blog posts that are effectively press releases being one example.

So non-professionalism to me is just a label for a set of behaviour that people who aren’t used to interacting online can use to recognise a change in the nature of professionalism.

@paulg is right, it is kinda tongue in cheek. Just prodding and probing, trying to figure stuff out.

Perhaps he should have been more professional.

I have to say that this post, or at the very least your terminology, is way off the mark. If by unprofessional you mean adopting a human voice and conversing with people, then – I think – I understand what you’re saying.

If however, you’re suggesting that dedication, commitment and understanding (professionalism) don’t have a place in this space I think you’re wrong. You are either good at your job (professional) or not (unprofessional). There is no grey area.

Andrew is right that professionalism takes different forms and it depends on context what professional behaviour entails. But I would wager that he is in a minority in being able to discern when that is required. Far too many people approach social web stuff like it is any other kind of media.

For them, a new term is, I think useful, because it indicates that a change of behaviour or culture is necessary.

MJ Ray’s input that professional has connotations of ‘paid for’ is really interesting and not something I had thought of. Great stuff!

Perhaps there is a better term than non-professional. Am open, as always, to suggestions!

An interesting discussion and takes on professionalism, however informal does not have to equate to non professional – ask many youth workers!!

I’d like to use “artisanism” (like artisan bakers and craftsmen) but too few people in IT know what that means. Non-professionalism is probably a good alternative, but is it too close to unprofessionalism and its misleading baggage?

But not everyone who uses social media can describe themselves as a communications professional.

Mostly they are professional in their own field, but may feel inclined to hide behind what they see as ‘professional’ language. I especially have in mind the kind of warped council speak I tried to strangle for 10 years in those around me.

Perhaps we could develop some rules for social media, here are some I carried from web1.0 and local authorities.

Always try to use “I” as in “I will ..” not “We will..” (I am in a group, and someone will maybe do something – so this is my way of relinquishing responsibility) or even worse “The council will …”

In social media people are connecting to you not your department.

If you really have to use technical terms or jargon explain their meaning when first used or link to their explanation.

… stops. This is sounding too much like the content of the plain english classes I helped organise.