I’ve discovered over the last few years that the engagement and comments I see on my LinkedIn posts are potentially the tip of the iceberg of people reading the posts.

I regularly get private messages with words to the effect that ‘you said what I was thinking but I’m not allowed to say, or daren’t say in case there are repercussions’.

This of course particularly applies to civil servants. After all, they are ‘servants’ – helping deliver the policies of their political masters in a politically impartial way.

But it reaches well beyond civil servants and other public sector officers into other spheres of professional life. ‘Don’t bite the hand that feeds you!’

So when we’re told a government department has said this, or a local council has said that, remember that what is said does not necessarily reflect what all or even most staff believe – staff who are intelligent people who can think for themselves but are required to toe the party line.

As I’ve learnt, you can influence others without ever knowing you are doing it – the iceberg below the waterline, the people who on particular issues may be cheering on the content of the post or bursting to say ‘me too!’ (Equally I suppose there may be others who want to say ‘utter rubbish’ but can’t say that either!).

The beauty of platforms like this it seems to me is that it does help to break down the sense that the corporate view will speak on our behalf and gives back greater opportunity to reflect our own opinions and engage in dialogue with one another, if we dare to.

So to all those out there who on some occasions simply cannot have a voice but are listening – thank you! And thanks for letting me know privately that you are out there and have your own views ready to share if only given the chance.

Here endeth my MetalFriday musings on a day when I’ve had two private messages which I was startled by but cannot share.

#civilservants #corporatecommunications