Social Media Education Key in the Workplace

 Online Reputation, Social Media in the Workplace, Social Media Risks  No Responses »
Jul 082013
 

For the past five years social media has continued to grow significantly in the professional arena as it becomes more entrenched in the workplace.

For employers this presents a number of opportunities to not only connect externally with clients and customers but also internally with employees. With these opportunities, however, comes multi layered and complex issues which employers need to manage.

As the blurring of the lines between personal and professional continues the risk management of these issues is substantial for employers to take seriously. It is not only the reputational damage of an organisation that is at stake in terms of risk, it covers a myriad of other legal and operational issues.

One of the key issues for organisations moving forward is education around social media. Here are some main points:

Understand Social Media:

Employers need to educate themselves about social media, the technology and the consequences. They need to be proactive and find solutions.

Have a Social Media Policy:

All organisations whether large or small need a social media policy and guidelines in place around usage and expectations of social media.

Employers Need to Partner with Employees:

Working together with employees is much more effective that simply providing them with a list of what they can’t do on social media. This will not work. Instead provide training and education around expectations.

Social media is impacting the workplace in many ways. This will only continue to grow as social media usage increases. Risk management of these issues is crucial in making sure that organisations minimise their risks where social media is concerned.

How do you manage social media in the workplace? Share your thoughts…..

Thanks for reading!

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 Posted by on 8 July, 2013 at 2:11 pm

The Pros and Cons of Social Media in the Workplace

 Online Reputation, Social Media in the Workplace, Social Media Policy, Social Media Risk  No Responses »
Jun 032013
 

Social media has bought a variety of benefits to the workplace, however with it also comes perhaps an unwelcome distraction for employees.

If used effectively social media can provide business with the opportunity to enhance its communications both external and internal as well assist with management of business brand and reputation.  However, by its very nature social media creates many difficulties in the workplace.  Its ‘one to many’ and ‘many to many’ structure combined with its immediacy and viral capacities, can create confusion as it blurs the lines between personal and public.

So what can an employer do?  Block complete access to social media or allow unlimited access to particular networks are the main reactions by employers.

The Case For Social Media in the Workplace:

  • It can facilitate greater trust between the employer and employee.
  • Consider this: Are employees who surf the net just a new version of employees who chat by the water cooler?
  • For Gen Y, social media is an essential part of their life. They see access as fundamentally a ‘right’ not a ‘privilege’.
  • Blocking these sites really does nothing as employees have smartphones which provides access in the workplace.

The Case Against Social Media in the Workplace:

  • It is a disruptive element in the workplace – employees are there to work not to connect with friends.
  • Employees can’t multi-task. According to some researchers, multi-tasking is a myth – you can’t surf the net, check emails and do your work at the same time.
  • Access will lead to decreased productivity and therefore is not favourable for employers.

In reality, each workplace will need to handle the issue differently depending on their culture, industry and expectations.  However, there is no doubt that a paradigm shift is needed by employers to stop seeing social media as a problem.  There have always been disruptions in the workplace and this will continue because at its core people are social beings.  Employers can be proactive and take the opportunity to see social media as an advantage and put policies in place to manage the negatives.

Thanks for reading!

Feel free to ‘tweet’ or ‘repost’ this article or leave your comments….

 Posted by on 3 June, 2013 at 7:27 pm

Does Your Workplace Have A Social Media Policy?

 Online Reputation, SMEs, Social Media Policy, Social Media Risks  No Responses »
May 172013
 

In an ever increasing online, mobile and connected world, social media is becoming an important tool for business. However, there are also risks that need to be managed. For many employers, they refuse to engage with social media. But not understanding this space is no longer a valid reason for ignoring it.

A key social media issue for workplaces is the boundary between personal and professional for employees.  These two aspects of people’s lives are now merging together making it challenging for employees to separate work from home.

Negative information online can affect an employer’s reputation and therefore employees need to be careful what they post.  There are numerous examples of employees behaving badly online while discussing their employer.  But employers can’t control employees using social media platforms outside work hours.

So what is an employer to do?

A solid Social Media Policy can be extremely valuable in managing risks and providing guidelines to both the employee and employer.  A policy that is tailored to the culture of the workplace supports business to navigate the world of social media.  As the popularity of social media continues to grow employers need to communicate to their employees what their expectations are in relation to social media.

Without a Social Media Policy business is leaving themselves open to reputational, legal and operational consequences.

Does your workplace have a social media policy? How does it operate?

 

Thanks for reading!

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 Posted by on 17 May, 2013 at 6:05 pm

Employers Can Manage Social Media Risks

 Online Media, Online Reputation, Social Media, Social Media in the Workplace, Social Media Policy, Social Media Risks  No Responses »
Sep 102012
 

Social media is growing rapidly and with it comes endless opportunities and many advantages for business.  However, with hand held devices increasing and social media sites embedded in people’s lives comes a blurring of the lines between professional and private space.  Bearing this is mind employers cannot ignore social media as it is here to stay and it has wide reaching implications for those employers who choose to bury their head in the sand.

Some of the risks that can occur include:

  • leaking of confidential information
  • employees airing their dirty linen in public
  • adverse impact on brand reputation
  • negative comments posted online which triggers bullying allegations

So the key question is “how do employers manage their social media risk?”

A Social Media Policy is a good start however this as a stand-alone is not sufficient.  It needs to be part of coordinated HR management strategy that includes the following:

  • A strong Employment Contract – which highlights the types of behaviours which may lead to dismissal
  • A Social Media Policy – which is linked to the Employment Contract and includes acceptable/not acceptable behaviour and inappropriate usage in and out of the workplace
  • Guidelines on Usage of Social Media during Work Hours – should there be a blanket ban on personal use in the workplace?
  • Employee Training – regular training can be an effective tool to make sure that employees understand what is expected from the policies.
  • Discipline & Termination Procedure – a policy without discipline consequences is unlikely to be effective.  It can be used as a deterrent to discourage employees from using social media negatively.

What do others believe is effective?

 

Thanks for reading!

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 Posted by on 10 September, 2012 at 11:37 am

Promote Yourself on LinkedIn

 LinkedIn, Online Professional Networks, Online Reputation, Social Media  No Responses »
Jul 302012
 

LinkedIn continues to grow as a professional network.  If you Google yourself or others, it is likely that your LinkedIn profile will be close to the top of any search results.

Although it seems to be an underrated social media platform, like Facebook and Twitter it has enormous potential.  Firstly, it is the only platform that brings professionals together and secondly, the network is growing rapidly so the possibilities are extensive.

Your profile needs to be a “work in progress” and here are some of the benefits:

Increase your Visibility

As you connect with others, you increase the possibility that your profile will be seen and the potential that others will come to recognise you extending your network and possible opportunities.

Increase Your Credibility

As a LinkedIn profile lists your current role, past jobs, qualifications, and so on this promotes your credibility as someone who is experienced and knowledgeable.

Integrate with Other Social Media

If you have a business Facebook page or a blog, link it to your profile.  Add your company profile and other relevant information.

Improve Your Google Ranking

Having a LinkedIn profile puts you quite high up in a Google search.  When people look you up via a search engine anyone can easily find you and connect with you.

Recommendations

Request recommendations from your colleagues or clients.  They work much the same way as testimonials and references, almost like an online “word of mouth” referral system.

LinkedIn can be an underrated platform, however, its benefits can be powerful purely because it is a professional social network.  Connecting and associating with other like-minded professionals is one step to being proactive in your career and LinkedIn provides this opportunity.

Thanks for reading!

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 Posted by on 30 July, 2012 at 3:29 pm

Does Your Workplace Have A Social Media Policy?

 Online Brand Reputation, Online Media, Online Reputation, Social Media, Social Media in the Workplace, Social Media Policy  No Responses »
Jul 232012
 

As social media continues to grow, statistics in Australia show all platforms increasing.  With it comes a blurring of the lines between personal and business communication especially in the workplace.

Social media is more extensive than simply having a Facebook account.  It involves a spectrum of technologies that include web and mobile technologies including blogging, LinkedIn, text messaging, MSN Messenger and Skype all Web 2.0 platforms that encourage interactivity.  This may cause disruption in the workplace as employees can become preoccupied with non-work related issues.

Some employers make social media sites inaccessible in the workplace.  However, blocking such sites is neither suitable nor practical particularly in this age of changing communication and youth who have grown up not knowing life without the online space.

The solution is to have a policy that is balanced and makes clear what is appropriate behaviour.  No one policy will work for all organisations.  Such policies need to be tailored to the culture of the workplace.  But there are some key points that are collectively relevant and important to consider:

o       Include a definition of social media

o       Make employees aware there is a policy

o       Have consequences for breaking the social media policy

o       Implement it alongside your Internet and email policy

o       Have a training session to implement the policy

o       Have employees sign off that they understand the policy

There is no doubt that the use of social media in the workplace has become one of the hottest issues in human resources for a number of years.  Social media is part of the dynamic and constantly changing world of communication in the 21st century.  A blocking strategy is an overreaction and should be avoided, as employees will resent it.  A collaborative approach is more desirable and more in tune with a modern workforce.

Thanks for reading!

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 Posted by on 23 July, 2012 at 11:25 am

Social Media and Managing Your Online Brand and Reputation

 Online Brand Reputation, Online Content, Online Marketing, Online Media, Online Reputation, Social Media, Social Media in the Workplace, Social Media Tips, Social Network Sites  No Responses »
Jul 162012
 

Social media is an important tool for business communications.  Despite the positive aspects it brings, the nature of social media means that someone airing their bad experience online does so, instantly and potentially to a massive audience.

As the online environment becomes more crucial to business, and more people are continuously online, increasingly they will comment on their experience with friends via Facebook, blogs, Twitter and so on.  This emerges as a risk that all businesses need to manage.  Any negative comments from disgruntled customers (or employees) can potentially be very damaging to a business image if it goes ‘viral’.

Here are 3 steps for SMEs to be proactive in managing their brand and reputation:

1. Audit

This is essential to assess your brand and reputation and see exactly what people think about your business.  These conversations are happening with or without your presence so there is plenty of information out there.  Therefore it is vital for business to be a part of the online community and monitor what is being said about them.

2. Positive Content

It is unlikely that you will be able to have every negative comment or image removed from its original source.  Content which is hosted on a third’s party’s site is content that will be challenging to remove.  If you have been unsuccessful in asking nicely to have it removed, be proactive and keep publishing constructive content.  This can diminish the negative content’s visibility to the lower end of an engine search.

3. Track & Monitor

Think about key words or phrases that you believe symbolise you, your company, and your brand.  These can be typed into a search engine to see what comes up.  Better still, to be more efficient set up ‘alerts’ (i.e Google Alert) with your key words so that you are notified each time there is a post or tweet that mentions your key words.

Be cautious about trying to have negative comments removed as this may cause more damage as it alerts individuals to the content and suggests you are trying to hide something!!  Accept that the online environment is something you can’t control and that negative comments will always be part of equation.  Business can only track, monitor, negate and correct factual information.

Thanks for reading!

Feel free to ‘tweet’ or ‘repost’ this article or leave your comments….

 Posted by on 16 July, 2012 at 10:59 am