Employers Adjust to New World of Social Networking
If you've spent time using social networking sites such as Facebook
and Twitter -- and studies show that most of you spend plenty of time using
them -- then you've been gaining skills that many employers value.
After a lot of initial concern, employers in most industries are starting
to embrace social media as a way for employees to connect with each other,
as well as with suppliers, customers and business partners. It's also a way
for employees to help promote their companies to the general public.
"I think for the most part the ones that have been hesitant are starting
to realize that they have to jump in the game -- that they have to be out
there with the competitors and they're missing something [if they don't],"
says social media consultant Greta Perry.
"For example, I just sat down with a restaurant [owner] and he knows people
are talking about him on the web, and he figures he probably better figure
out what they're saying and be proactive. So I think most are getting on board
now."
As you might expect, companies in the marketing and sales industries have
been especially quick to adopt social media and to let their employees use
it in the workplace.
"The ones that are focused on sales and marketing are definitely embracing
it," says social media consultant Tammy Munson. "They are seeing the value
in it. They see what it can do for them in terms of not only just sales and
marketing, but creating that community which ultimately down the road creates
the customer loyalty that they're looking for."
Other industries have been much slower to embrace social media. Government
services companies, financial services companies and energy companies are
all highly regulated. They are slow to adopt social media due to government
regulations and concerns about client privacy.
This is starting to change, however, as specialized social networking sites
are cropping up to comply with this (and similar) industry's privacy concerns.
Companies wanting the benefits of social media without most of the risks
are using private, internal social networking tools. One such tool is Yammer,
which is used by more than 100,000 businesses worldwide. It lets employees
write blogs, create profiles and communicate with each other, but all of that
activity is kept internal. Nobody outside of the company can view any of it
(unless they are granted access).
Most people currently in management positions haven't grown up with social
media, so they're taking a cautious approach.
Another concern is that employees will post things on social media sites
that will reflect badly on their employer. And a big concern for many employers
is that employees will simply be wasting time if they're allowed to access
social media at work.
"Most of the companies that we see blocking it are for security reasons
and also [because of concerns about] wasting time," says Munson. "And some
of them, they just don't understand it, they don't get it.
"They think, 'Oh, that's just stuff for individuals, that's just stuff
to waste time, there's no value in it for our business, our customers, our
marketing plans,'" Munson says.
"But once they start to see the light and you actually show them, 'Here's
your return on investment that you're going to get from this' -- once you
show them that, then they're a little bit more on board with it all."
Dr. James Norrie studies the adoption of social media by businesses. He's
the associate dean of administration at a school of management at a university.
"We've discovered some interesting things about rates at which industries
adopt," says Norrie. "...[T]hey adopt very much based on a risk profile, so
more conservative organizations [such as] financial services and government
services are both examples of industries that tend to lag, they tend to come
to the party later -- usually at least past the midpoint of the curve in terms
of adoption, in comparisons of industries. Some of that has to do with concerns
about security and testing the technologies, waiting to see what's going to
be proven."
Perry has worked with many owners and managers who are waiting to see what's
going to be proven. Therefore, they resist social media at first. Often, employees
know more about social media than their employer does.
"I think it's usually from the top -- the owner or the manager doesn't
always consider the positive benefits from the use of social media," says
Perry.
"Telling a business that you would encourage their employees to use Foursquare
is awkward because the owner may not even be aware what Foursquare is -- and
then you're trying to sell something to a company that they may not understand.
But when you tell them their employees are already using it, then they're
kind of like, 'Gee, that's not a bad thing.'"
Perry helps business owners to appreciate that social media can be a great
way for their employees to get the word out about the company.
"They're using it anyways, and if they like your business and are promoting
it anyways, then that's a bonus for you," says Perry. "I always say it's a
great endorsement for the company."
There's also danger when employees discuss their company on social media
sites. "If they're having a bad day and you're on their Facebook and you see
that (them saying something negative), then there's the flipside to that too,"
says Perry.
"[So] there can be negative results from that as well," Perry adds. "As
much as you can embrace social media, there's always going to be somebody
scorned or something negative that can come up on it when you allow your employees
to embrace it."
It's not just employers who should be concerned about what their employers
are saying. As a current (or future) employee, you should also be cautious
about what you post online.
"I am adamant that young people need to be cautious of their digital footprint,"
says Perry.
"It is imperative to have a clean digital footprint -- and almost impossible...
I know people in human resources, and Joe Schmo sends them a letter or a resume
that looks really great, and then the picture showing up [on a social media
site] is him chugging a keg of beer. So, yeah, your digital footprint is definitely
an issue."
Despite the concerns for both businesses and individuals, it seems that
social media will continue to grow in use. Being aware of its strengths and
weaknesses will help you as an employee, and perhaps someday as a manager
or as the owner of your own business.
Says Munson: "Ultimately, for a CEO or a business owner, it really comes
down to: do you trust your employees enough to have that [social media] out
there for them, to utilize the things that they need to utilize, but still
get the job done at the end of the day?"
Links
How to Get Employees to Embrace Social Media
There are things employers can do
Social Media Governance
Check out the social media policies for nearly 200 companies
How to Write a Social Media Policy
Learn how companies can address their social media concerns
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