Tell me if this story sounds somewhat familiar: 

There once was established professional who has made a name for themselves in their industry.  He was invited/assigned to a new role and given little guidance on what to do.  He eventually fine-tunes his new craft and realizes he is part of a much larger community that has been making things happen for quite some time.

If you add in “…and then defeats intergalactic monster(s),” then you’ve got the plot for the upcoming “Green Lantern” movie, starring Ryan Reynolds.

If you don’t add in that extra line, doesn’t it sound like the career path of most social media folks?

Hal Jordan was a test pilot.  Social Media Guy/Gal (SMG/G) probably worked in public relations, advertising or marketing.

Hal Jordan was known for taking insane risks.  SMG/G likely made a name for themselves by thinking creatively and looking at what could be, versus what was in front of them.

Hal Jordan was given a ring from a mysterious alien.  SMG/G started pushing clients to social media – or maybe even started a personal or professional blog.

Hal Jordan taught himself how to use his power ring as a force for good.  SMG/G started reading and tinkering and learning and maybe even had a few client successes.

Hal Jordan joined his colleagues in the Green Lantern Corps, a universal police force.  SMG/G started guest-blogging, attending conferences and meeting people in real life.

Hal Jordan saved the galaxy.  SMG/G got new clients.

OK, so maybe the analogy isn’t 100% perfect.

And to hammer it home, here are three lessons social media pros can learn from Green Lantern:

1) Real Power Comes From Within: Green Lantern’s ring is powered by his will.  That means that despite having a ring that makes his visions come to life, his true power is his fearlessness.  Use tools and metrics, but trust your gut – it’s most likely right.

2) Teamwork Rules: Each Green Lantern covers a sector of space by themselves.  However, they must work together to tackle the biggest challenges.  Social Media is truly a galaxy unto itself.  Don’t be afraid to rely on your peers and teammates to boost your own skills and abilities.

3) Some Separation Is Needed: A Green Lantern is virtually almost always “on-call.”  Hal Jordan struggles to keep distinction between his job (test pilot) and his mission (planetary protector).  Most social media professionals have a similar “bleedover.”  Unplugging for a bit on a regular basis will keep you sharp and focused.

I think I talk about superheroes.

Last year, we came up with a Justice League of Communications.  And the year before that, we assembled your PR Ninja Turtles!

Just last week, I outlined (on our new brother/sister site, The Fatherhood Guide) all the reasons I want my future children to love Superman.

So this may or may not come as a total shock to you: I’m a Superman Geek.

The character just clicks with me.  so please forgive my minor obsession, as it continues here today.

Superman debuted in 1938, as the Great Depression was giving way to World War II.  Americans needed a champion of justice more than ever, as mass-media, through newspapers, motion pictures, radio and magazines permeated the culture.

Two young artistic talents, Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster, had toyed with the “Superman” name and character for quite some time before Action Comics #1 hit the stands.

The final version of the character was an alien from the planet Krypton who stood for truth, justice and the American Way.  Hey, he may have been BORN on another planet, but the United States was his home.

Over the decades, the character has evolved and expanded into all forms of media and licensing.

Through it all, he has remained the standard-bearer, the beacon of goodness and a symbol of hope.  Not too bad for a fictional character.

But the key to the story is that all of us can be a Superman.  Or Superwoman.

And in the social media world, there are just three basic super powers to achieving that goal.  Don’t get me wrong: Its much more complicated than just1-2-3, but keeping these abilities in mind will help you be faster than a speeding bullet, more powerful than a locomotive and able to leap tall buildings in a single bound.  Metaphorically-speaking, of course.

1) Super Listening – In order to promote something – anything – you MUST be able to listen and understand the needs at hand.  There is no way you can come up with a plan, or execute one, without really, truly grasping who your client is and what they are trying to accomplish.

2) Custom Utility Belt – You need to assemble the tools and tricks and Batarangs that your client needs.  This requires some amount of magic, science and luck.  Yep, luck.  Ask any social media professional and they’ll (perhaps reluctantly) admit that luck is part of it.  But without the right tools in the right strategy, luck means nothing.

3) Super Speed – Social media is all about NOW.  Work quickly, but accurately.  Be creative, but precise.  Networks do take time to build, but good content can start instantly.  What are you waiting for???

What other super powers does a social media Superman need?

The year was 1960.  The Cold War was in full effect, Neil Armstrong hadn’t yet touched the moon and Dwight D. Eisenhower was President of the United States.  Heck, The Beatles hadn’t appeared on The Ed Sullivan Show yet!

However, a comic book came out, issue #28 of The Brave and the Bold.  It featured the first-ever team-up of seven of the greatest and most powerful superheroes of all-time!  Over the years, dozens of characters spent time as members of the Justice League of America (not to mention it’s popular off-shoot groups!).  Each grouping of heroes had something in common – the whole was greater than the sum of it’s parts.  Everyone working together had much more of an impact than if each hero had their own agenda.  They didn’t always get along, but they worked as a team.  Sound familiar, Communications Pros?

Don’t we all want to be a superhero?  Check out which member of the Justice League of Communications you are most like!

Code Name: Superman

Powers and Abilities: Ummm…everything…he’s frickin’ Superman! Every communications team has a Superman (or woman)…and if they don’t, they may be in trouble.  Your Superman may seem like he’s from another planet.  His skills are top-flight in just about every area.  He may not be THE best at EVERYTHING, but when you need EVERYTHING, he’s the best. He’s a natural leader, and not just because of his powers.  Leadership and respect are earned, and this fella has done just about everything to earn every ounce of it.  Deep down, you hate him.  And even deeper down, you wish you were him.  But it’s cool, the burden of being Superman isn’t for everyone.

Code Name: Batman

Powers and Abilities: Top-flight athlete, master strategist, genius inventor

The Dark Knight strikes fear into the hearts of evil-doers everywhere.  He strikes from nowhere and everywhere at once.  He knows you better than you know yourself – and while his methods are suspect, nobody gets the job done as consistently as he does.

On your team, there is probably a person you don’t like or trust.  They keep to themselves, possess a mysterious past and speak grimly about the future.  However, the one thing you know about them is that their work is second-to-none.  You don’t know HOW they get the job done, and frankly, you are probably better off not knowing.  But at the end of the day, your Batman is on your side

Code Name: Wonder Woman

Powers and Abilities: God-level strength, speed, flight, lasso of truth

If you think Wonder Woman is just a female version of Superman, you are selling her far short.  The champion

of the Amazons has the requisite superpowers needed to get the job done, but her ability to look at the bigger picture is what’s really important.  She has conversed with the Gods and has greater vision than anyone else on the team.  Being able to see  how everything fits together (or how it should) is critical on a communications team.  You are not acting in a vacuum – there are many moving parts here, even for small companies, so you have to be able to understand the greater plan.

The other notable Wonder Woman trait is empathy.  Someone as smart and talented as she is could be horrible to work with.  However, she understands that not everyone views the world as she does and works to open eyes instead of punishing people.  She ain’t a “den mom,” though, so don’t take advantage of her.

Code Name: Green Lantern

Powers and Abilities: No fear, alien power ring that turns your will power into hard energy

Test pilot Hal Jordan was given a power ring from a dying alien that made him one of the most powerful entities in the entire universe.  He just didn’t really know it at the time.  Green Lantern started as a smart-alecky fly-boy who chases the ladies, parties hard and makes it to work on time (ish) and get the job done.  His will to succeed allows him to overcome some sloppiness.

On your team now, you have someone who’s maturing.  They are living life, making some mistakes, and, despite some major faults, able to save the day.  It’s a constant juggling act and if they don’t start making some progress soon, you’ll have to reevaluate their status, even knowing how good they are.  Can you take that risk?

Code Name: Flash

Powers and Abilities: Superspeed

The Flash has one skill: speed.  And he has mastered it.  He has used his speed to break the time barrier, travel todifferent dimensions, clean up dangerous debris, deflect explosions, save people from would-be-tragic falls and more.  But he is NOT a one-trick-pony.

This person on your team became known for one particular skill.  It was something you needed at the time: writing, proofreading, pitching, whatever.  But over time, they became more than just that one skill.  They proved to everyone that their mastery of one area translated to another part of the team.  Perhaps someone who’s great at calling reporters also became the person who sold ideas up the flagpole?  Or a great strategist showed aptitude at dealing with clients.  That’s The Flash.  One ability doesn’t just mean one role.

Code Name: Aquaman

Powers and Abilities: Lives underwater, swims like a fish, ruler of the seas

Arthur Curry is a conflicted man: he is a man of two worlds.  He is the King of the Seas – ruling 70% of the planet, a daunting task for anyone.  But he is half-human, as well.  So while he must represent the 70% on dry land, his prime loyalty is to his Kingdom.

Everyone is a little bit Aquaman.  Be it your family, your house, your dream side gig, we all feel the pull from another important aspect of our life on a daily basis.  The key is to manage it properly.  Unlike any other superhero, Aquaman sets limits and boundaries.  When someone goes wrong at “home,” he checks out immediately.  He may seem aloof and jaded by peers and observers, but he sleeps soundly at night knowing he is comfortable with his priority scale.  The team is important to him, but not THE most important thing.

What other heroes belong on your Justice League of Communications?