Issue link: https://read.uberflip.com/i/2582
the quarterly magazine of ILTA 11 Peer to Peer friends on my blog, and I try to defuse any inappropriate tweets about me gracefully. • own it. As aware as I try to be, I still have to accept that I give up control of some of my online "press" by being present in interactive places. As a result, I've had to learn to "own" some of my less-complimentary habits. I've had to realize that my staff now knows I have a life outside of the office. I've also had to own my mistakes — especially the ones I've made when I forget to not be stupid. • don't be a parasite. I consider it polite to give as well as take. I re-tweet others' links to their blog posts and share links that I've been reading as well. I comment on blog posts when I have something to say. Yes, I post links to my own blog, but I try to participate in conversation more than I self-promote. I've developed the way that I use social networking so that it has an overwhelmingly positive return on investment for me. By shelling out a relatively minimal amount of my time, I can stay on top of industry developments, I have an extensive supply of experts to answer my questions and I can build relationships that help me in my career. Like anything interactive (the telephone, the computer screen or a face-to-face meeting), social networking could fill up any amount of time I choose to give it. With the rules I have established for myself, however, I've managed to have success without sacrificing my day job. ILTA Jenn steele is the it director at Morrison Mahoney llP. Prior to Morrison Mahoney, Jenn was the it director at donovan hatem llP. Jenn is the social networking coordinator for ilta '09. she is the author of "leading Geeks," a blog focusing on best practices for leading technologists (http:// leadinggeeks.blogspot.com). you can find her on facebook, linkedin, and twitter (as @jennsteele). she can be reached at jsteele@morrisonmahoney.com. We're talking about professional development online right now. ILTA MEMBERS, join your peers online in the ILTA E-Group discussion forums. This popular member benefit is a members-only, topic-driven, online forum designed to improve communication among peers. There is no better place to get advice, exchange ideas, learn from first-hand experience and benefit from the knowledge of other legal IT professionals. How does it work? Log in to E-Groups from the ILTA homepage and subscribe the forums that interest you. New posts and replies will be sent to your e-mail inbox as often as you like. Post a message or reply of your own to get answers and recommendations from your peers. Who can subscribe? Any employee of a member law firm or law department can subscribe to any ILTA e-group. TAKE THE CONVERSATION ONLINE Don't miss out on one of the most important benefits of ILTA membership.