Most people have wholly embraced the existence of different social media platforms. Every single person that you may find riding public transportation has their eyes hooked on their mobile phones. Does each individual need to “sign-in” wherever they go and post it on their social media accounts? And, just come to think of it how life was 30 years ago when mobile phones in the Philippines were non-existent. While riding their way to work, what kept them busy was reading a newspaper or listening to their walkman. But since everything just seems to be all about the virtual world, reading the news is now also done by just flipping through several pages of a network’s news site.
As we all know, everything has both a good and bad side of it. And all it takes is to have a good balance of everything to take advantage of the benefits. Being a business owner, you instill any policies regarding using your employees’ mobile phones while at work? While we see social media sites as a mere inappropriate posting of memes. “Instagrammable” food photos, and endless selfies, entrepreneurs know the use of social media in the workplace is beneficial for the company as in each other individual. Social media is not a mere distraction from boredom. It is something that we can all use in whatever profession that we have to our advantage.
Instead of wasting time and energy setting limits on how employees use social media, employers should find ways to convert it into something beneficial for the company.
Here’s how social media can be helpful for your employees:
First and foremost, it should be clear to all employees that they should maintain a good reputation, whether online or offline, being part of your company. Any wrong decision that they make reflects your company. Therefore, they should be able to make social media a means of connecting with professional individuals, possibly leading to opportunities for the company. LinkedIn, for one, is one great site since it is generally geared towards these types of connections and has a wide range of business uses.
Also, they can refer to social media whenever they encounter complex work problems by asking questions. Hold on to that thought! I am not saying that they need to contact their friends and just spend the whole day chatting. But in using the internet, employees may be able to do some research to develop a great solution.
There are companies now that provide a space for their employees to relax. Aside from providing them with a lounge where they can hang out with their co-employees, billiard tables and even video games are available. Why do you think these companies added these to their office? It is about helping their employees to become more productive. Seems ironic? An individual who gets to take some time to relax can become more efficient with his work because he doesn’t feel that stressed. The same thing goes for allowing your employees to have some time for a mental break. This happens at BPO companies where employees are only allowed to get hold of their mobile phones during their holidays and are requested to have them inside their lockers. This is for protecting the company’s private information from leaking out to its competitors.
Most companies these days have their own Facebook Page. Companies post their products and services and use them to give recognition to employees who have shown exemplary performance during a specific period in which employees’ morale is boosted. Similarly, employees can congratulate each other, keep up with the company’s current events, and interact with more colleagues. In doing so, each employee is more confident about how they perform in their jobs and maintain a healthy relationship among themselves, thus reducing company turnover.
Every business wants its employees to be more productive. You must realize that a satisfied employee can only put good words about the company that they work for. And when they do, they also share their experience on social media, which is a good advertisement for your company – yes, FREE ADVERTISING!
It is unlikely to eliminate these “millennial activities” that we all have been accustomed to. Instead of wasting your time reprimanding your employees from using social media at work, encourage them to use it productively.
You may have noticed how often I post on popular social media sites. It is because I find it very useful in my line of work. But more than encouraging entrepreneurs to get my services, I also aspire to lead a positive life by sharing insights. That can strengthen their faith in themselves and in our Creator. We all have fun using Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. And it is time to use it wisely in the workplace.
There are just a few “R’s” that you need to reiterate to your employees when they share something using social media sites:
1. To only share what is Real.
2. To always give Respect to others.
3. To become Responsible for the kind of things that they post.
4. To uphold the company’s reputation.
5. To only use social media within a Reasonable amount of time.
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You may contact Armando “Butz” Bartolome for questions and more information.
By email: aob@gmb.ph
FB Page: Armando Bartolome
Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/franguru/
Website: https://www.gmb.ph
