The practice of communicating through traditional channels of communication, such as the use of newspapers, radio, and television has increasingly been replaced by social media communication in business. The intentional use of social media channels has now become a key component of most strategic communication plans for companies to gain competitive edges. In business, the term ‘social’ applies to the way people interact with each other on-line. For example, a Facebook page can be considered a social media communication tool, because it allows people to express themselves and connect with one another. It also allows you to connect with a large global audience.

But what about leaders? How can they use this powerful communication channel to improve their leadership skills? Social networking sites have allowed many professionals to communicate with each other online, such as in blogs, forums, and through social media communication channels such as Facebook and Twitter.

This online interaction provides a unique opportunity for the professional who wants to sharpen their leadership skills:

The most important advantage of using social media sites such as Facebook, MySpace, and twitter is that it helps to create leadership skills by allowing the leader to express themselves as well as listen to their followers. Some leadership programs specifically incorporate YouTube into their training programs, because it is a powerful tool to help leaders understand their followers’ needs and aspirations.

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