Social media has blown up in the last few years, to the extent that it is now an integral part of every aspect of our lives. Although it was originally intended as a way to interact with friends, social media’s scope has become so big that it is now a huge part of the professional world, both in terms of networking and marketing. But such usage has blurred the lines slightly as to what is appropriate and what is not appropriate when it comes to social media in the workplace. Is it ok to “friend” an employee on Facebook? Should employees be encouraged to send tweets to and about the company? Unfortunately there are no hard and fast rules except those that you set for yourself.
Friends or Coworkers?
Workplaces are so diverse and different from one another that it is hard to allow for the specific nuances of each company. However, for most people it would be slightly bizarre for a company’s ceo to add each new employee as a friend on Facebook. It might be a good way to network, but it has a hint of “watch your back” about it. Having said that, there are many companies, particularly smaller ones, where coworkers and friends are one and the same, and perhaps even family. Even with that in mind however, unless you were friends first, “friending” an employee can be an awkward experience for everyone involved. If you do not have that sort of relationship with the people in your company, connecting via other sites is often a much better option. LinkedIn is designed specifically for creating and maintaining professional connections, so it is a much better option.
I’m Following You
Twitter is a similar sort of medium, but in some ways it could not be more different. Where Facebook is designed to help people to keep up with friends, Twitter accounts can often be followed by thousands of people, most of whom are complete strangers. This makes it perhaps a more appropriate social tool through which employers and employees can connect. Many companies actually encourage interactions on Twitter, sending people to the official company account and also tweeting from it. However, because of the prospect of millions of followers, Twitter can be quite high risk. Some strict guidelines for Twitter usage should be enforced, with such rules as no personal tweets from work. A rule like this would help prevent mishaps like those suffered by the Red Cross and Chrysler.
It's All About Boundaries
Most of us are aware of certain social and professional boundaries that should not be crossed in the workplace, but it should still be an employer’s first priority to make sure that everybody is aware of them. Social media can be a remarkable asset for both professional networking and marketing, but it can just as easily be misused and cause an unwanted crisis. Each company must assess exactly what they want to get out of social media usage, and create a firm social media policy for the entire company. It will not guarantee that mistakes will not happen, but at least you will know that they are some of the only problems you will face — at least when it comes to social media.
About the Author: Robert Cordray is a freelance writer for Income.com and expert in business who specializes in giving entrepreneur advice. With over 20 years of business experience, Robert is now retired and hopes others can benefit from his writing.
