Twitter is a great communication tool. There are over 10 million people with Twitter userIDs, and many million tweets per day, from folks all over the world. As a manager, the time is NOW to sign up and get using Twitter.

Seven Reasons Managers Need To Use Twitter:

1) Communicate more succinctly – 140 characters is all you get to communicate your message. Are you up to the challenge? How long are your e-mails? Try to make them 140 or so characters. How? Keep things to 1 message, 1 main idea.

2) Learn from other managers – There are TONS of managers out there already using Twitter. Follow a few of them and learn from their successes and mistakes.

3) Listen to conversations – There are tons of people not managers talking about your industry trends, talking about management, and talking about how to deal with these challenging times. The more you listen, the more you learn!

4) Understand what’s being said and done by others in your firm – Search out others in your firm using Twitter. Follow them. Talk to them about how they’re using Twitter. Learn from them. Share your best practices and your biggest failings.

5) Keep up with new technologies – While Twitter may or may not be here forever, microblogging platforms are only going to get more and more prevalent. Learn now before EVERYONE gets on Twitter and everyone is skeptical of what you’re saying.

6) Others will see you as an expert – The more people you connect with, the more you share, the more people look to you to connect to other people and to share MORE information.

7) Have fun! – Yes, Twitter is fun. Learning is fun. Connecting is fun. Sharing is fun! Have a little fun and enjoy yourself. Don’t take yourself too seriously, and Twitter can be your best friend!