Social media is the hot buzzword for the first part of this decade, it is also becoming ever more apparent that it is here to stay and vital we all get aboard in order to stay pertinent in this new age of hyper-fast communication with second by second updates, and nearly instantaneous uploads to YouTube. Generation Y is on the fast track to technological superiority, unless the X'ers and Boomer's have something to say about it!
So a couple of years ago I started participating in this website called Klout . It is an algorithm based website that calculates your level of Social Media influence and interaction. At first it wasn't something that I paid very much attention to, but upon further inspection and contemplation I have to say I think it is invaluable.
In today's day and age staying on the cusp of technology and remaining germane are more vital than ever. If you aren't relevant then what is your worth in the potential-job market? I have to say that I believe going forward Klout, or an instrument very similar to Klout, will be a benchmark for potential employers when deciding if their candidates are going to have the consistency and intuitiveness to participate in spreading the good word about their company.
Many employers still block their employees from utilizing tools such as, twitter, Facebook, blogger and other vital social media tools in the workplace; while I can understand some of the thought process behind this, at the end of the day they are going to be doing it anyway, so why not support it. With our iPhones in hand at the lunch table, and video cameras able to post to youTube instantaneously, to proverbially slap the hands of employees who utilize these tools will come back to haunt you. Start to learn to say YES! Yes to social media, yes to change, and you will build something more important; sustainability!
I do think that showing employees that you trust their judgement will go a long way in getting more consistent buy-in and commitment in the long run. Keeping employee's actively engaged is something that is always a struggle and by hindering their ability to connect with others can be very detrimental in building a positive place to work. Sited from an article found at echannelline Andrew McAfee of the M.I.T. Sloan Center believes that social media is an amazing positive for corporations worldwide.
"A new three-part white paper series, titled "When Social Meets Business Real Work Gets Done" authored by Andrew McAfee, a principal research scientist at the MIT Sloan Center for Digital Business and the AIIM Task Force on Social Business and Innovation, indicates that social technologies have brought business benefits."A simple Google search of social media will highlight that there are varying opinions about social media and it's effectiveness as a business tool; but ultimately it is going no where. Figuring out how to harness some of it's potential and letting yourself get a jump on the competition will prove to be vital for survival. Think about the companies we have lost because they failed to evolve (blockbuster, Houghlin Mifflin, Kodak). The same goes for employee's! GET CONNECTED, STAY CONNECTED! Check out Klout, get involved in tweeting, and share some information with your friends on Facebook, social media is here to stay!
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Chip can be reached via twitter @chipkoty - facebook.com/chipkoty
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