Today's Business Lessons
Can’t shut them down
“Facebook is not allowed in our company.”
“We can’t use Twitter in our work place.”
Information Technology people scream: “Sir, we have to protect our
data security. Ma’am, we never know when someone could hack into our
system.”
Human Resource people say: “Sir, if we allow them to view their
Facebook pages, then all they will do is ‘socialize’ and not concentrate
on their works.”
I understand all these, I understand the caution and I understand how
important company information should be protected at all cost.
Here’s what I don’t understand.
The corporate citizens who do not have access to their Social sites
via their company computers turn to their mobile computers or smart
phones to have their doses of Social Media.
Now, this is the part that I do not understand.
The very leaders who prevent and prohibit their people from doing
Facebook or Tweeting in the work place do it themselves. This I cannot
understand.
And when the social media becomes more powerful, companies scramble
to have their own Facebook pages up and use expensive advertisements to
encourage the target market to “Like Us” on Facebook. This is odd, isn’t
it?
Less than a decade ago, many firms do not want to allow their people
to use email for fear of information leaving the company. As a matter of
fact, the great debate back then was all about whether sales
representative need computers.
I remember my younger years when MTV was exploding, and teens were
all watching. There were parents who did not allow their children to
watch MTV and guess what happened? They watched anyway.
When new technology emerges especially one that has potential to
change the way we live, the initial reaction is to prohibit the
unfamiliar because that is the easier thing to do.
But dare I say that
it’s totally ineffective in the first place?
Understanding the new format and learning more about it requires a
drastic departure from our areas of comfort. Progressive companies in
America are using social networks as terminals or platforms for their
internal connections, engagements and connections with thousands of
company employees. These platforms allow them to improve their working
relationships with their leaders and each other.
Here are the facts of life.
Today you turn to Twitter for fast breaking news – Twitter is the new
CNN of the 21st century. You turn to Google for information and
Instagram for food photos. You turn to iPhone for contacts and to
Facebook for friends and social connections. YouTube is the new cable TV
for the 21st century.
Information is now democratized. Every person is a broadcaster,
publisher, columnist and author, these are domains owned by an exclusive
few previously. In order to stay successful in Facebook, you need to
stay current and you need to stay cool.
The reason why Facebook is so successful, is because it provides
human connections and subsequently, human emotions. AD CEO Kevin Robert
calls this “Participation Economy.” Everybody wants to be connected.
Everybody wants to be liked.
This is why they urge and beg you to “Like” them. Even talent
agencies have to change the way they do business, they use social media
for their talents, because it has a wider reach.
Everything has changed and the rules are no longer the same.
May I make a suggestion? Hire a Digital Marketing Officer who
understands and makes the best use of technology. Rather than
prohibiting it, why not use it for good purposes and then perhaps,
leaders may be viewed as more authentic?
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