authenticity exercise

We all need to stop playing around with how we represent ourselves visually online, at least where work is concerned.

That’s what Gartner Consulting advises. They released a report last week proclaiming that Enterprises Must Get Control of Their Avatars. The animated avatars that an organization’s employees use when they participate as organization members inside virtual environments, as well as those cure little photos on Twitter, need to be proactively managed by the organization. Why? Because these avatars are representing the organization. They are affecting the corporate brand and reputation.

Business Avatars are an Important Trend

As crazy as it might sound to worry about controlling avatars, avatars are becoming big business. The corporate avatar trend went public in 2007, when IBM established guidelines for how its employees would use avatars and participate in business situations in virtual worlds like Second Life.

You might not have realized that the use of avatars in business settings is growing. With the rise in online virtual meetings, virtual training & learning simulations, and virtual businesses, not to mention social media within and across organizational boundaries, business avatars are becoming more and more common. Simultaneously, the processes for adapting and crafting an avatar’s appearance and movement are becoming both more sophisticated and easier to use.

Since avatars are becoming more common and easier to individualize, there will be more and more variation across avatars representing any one company. What will all these different avatars do for the organization’s image, reputation, and brand? [click to continue…]

If you're interested in this issue, please subscribe to my RSS feed. Or, use the blue box (upper right) to get an emailed update. Join the conversation below...

{ 1 comment }