Social Media Use at the Workplace

Local companies are shutting down Facebook access for employees because it's believed they are spending too much time connecting with friends than doing work. The ban of Facebook, along with other social networking sites, is taking affect at TCF Bank and law firm Fredrikson & Byron. No more will employees be able to share news, information or pictures online while a work.

As Facebook reaches 500 million uses, the website has become a conundrum for employers. The behemoth of social media offers and intriguing way to make business connections, but it can also be a major distraction. On recent survey by Network Box found that employees click on Facebook at work more than any other website, including Google.

Google "Facebook at work" and you'll turn up more than 1.2 billion hits. This just shows what a hot-button issue this is. Further, as other social networking sites come about, such as Twitter and LinkedIn, employers are re-evaluating how to manage social media at the workplace.

Some employers are completely open to the likes of Facebook and Twitter and even encourage their use. Others are using the social network strategically to recruit employees, market their brand and serve customers. A third group is trying to figure out what are appropriate interactions on Facebook in the workplace.

Some employers debate whether or not to create guidelines to using social networking sites at work rather than ban it all together. However, debaters on the topic agree it needs to be all or nothing.

Other companies actually greet the use of social media at work, such as Campbell Mithun. There, Facebook and social media networking are greatly encouraged. The idea is that it helps employees understand the engagement on brands they represent, gain firsthand knowledge of the dynamics of these markets and overall understand consumer needs better.

Some workplace development experts believe that the decision comes right down to what kind of environment you want to create, and that the social media debate is the exact same debate businesses had over email at work a decade ago and personal telephone calls at work two decades ago. The question that needs to be asked is, do you want to create a climate of trust and empowerment or do you want to create a climate of distrust, monitoring and control?

I believe that just because companies have the authority to block social media doesn't mean they should.

Oh Mel...

I've been a fan of Mel Gibson for a long time and until a couple of years ago he was one of the most well-respected and highly-paid actors in Hollywood. I can't understand why he is ruining his career and personal life. In 2006, Gibson was arrested after drunk driving and making anti-Semitic comments. (However, those comments were expunged from the arrest report.) Then last year he went through a divorce with his wife of 28-years, and who he had five children with, because he had an affair and got pregnant Oksana Grigorieva, who he eventually married. Now, he's going through another divorce with Grigorieva, because she claims he's been verbally abusive (claiming Gibson uses foul and threatening language towards her as well as the N-word) and physically abusive. Mel is not new to being an adult, so I'm not sure why he's making such poor decisions. Is the scandal with Oksana the last straw for Mel Gibson's movie career?

Mel needs to make a serious effort to save his public relations. Last Friday, after the news broke, Gibson's agency, William Morris Endeavor dropped him. Then Monday, new audio surfaced, capturing more of the former A-lister's angry and expletive-laden rant to ex-girlfriend Oksana Grigorieva, I'm beginning to wonder if anyone will want to have him in their film or any audience would want to go see a movie starring Gibson.

Now, the LA County Sheriff's Dept. is investigating the actor in a domestic abuse case because Gibson seems to acknowledge that he hit Grigorieva, the mother of his child, when he responds to her mention of him hitting her by saying, "you... deserved it."

After all this, I can't say I still think highly of the man. And, I'm not sure I would go see a film that had anything to do with him. However, I can't say this is the end for his career success. If Mel wants to make a comeback, as I said before he needs to make a serious effort. He should make an apology and admit he needs to figure out what is wrong with him, whether it be alcohol abuse, drug abuse, etc. Then he needs to recognize that he has a problem and show how he is going to solve it.

Mel Gibson is an artist and knows how to produce good work. He needs to focus on this self-quality and maybe if he produces great work again, he can resurrect his public image. However, this situation is a catch-22. He needs to resurrect his public image before a studio would probably hire him to work.

What do you think? Would you go see a movie produced by Gibson or starring Gibson?

Decisions, Decisions, Decisions...

We're forced to make decisions everyday of our lives, both big and small. You probably don't even realize how often you do. Practically every few minutes you will be forced to make a new decision. TV or book? Front page or crossword section? Coffee, Mocha or Latte? Go out or stay home?

I was inspired to write this post after watching the CBS Sunday Morning Show this weekend and viewing their story on decision making. I learned that many studies have been done on the act of decision making; researchers have actually studied and come to conclusions on how and why people make up their minds on something. This a very interesting topic when you relate it to the public relations, marketing and business world. If you could, wouldn't it be valuable to know to influence your consumers to better make a decision in your favor?

For a long time it was said that the best way to make a decision is to be rational, yet in recent years scientists have discovered that the rational brain can only take in a few bits of information at any given moment. If you give it too much information, it starts to short-circuit and sputter. Therefore, it is recommended that you just go for it when faced with complex decisions like buying a car, computer or even a house. Your emotional brain is much better at taking in a lot of information.

The kinds of decisions you make are often based on the type of mood you're in at that moment. Research shows that happiness and anger produce similar results. They both make you under-perceive risk. They both make you take risks and they both are associated with the sense of certainty and control.

Now back to how this can help us in business...

Of course if there are a lot of options out there, the more likely you'll find the exact thing you're looking for. However, studies show that you don't want to offer too many! Our brains become too overwhelmed with too many options and basically shut down. The fact is that the more choices we have, the less likely we are to actually make a purchase. It's been discovered that you get tired and your immune systems drops when forced to make a decision from too many options. You even become more likely to catch a cold!

So for you business professionals, you should learn from this. Consumers do not want to be bogged down with too many options. If you want them to remember you, only show your best few and then show more if they ask. Remember this while designing your website or informational handouts too. Leave room for white space! It's not visually appealing to see something with too many words or image distractions. Plus, no one will ever read all of what you have to say there are a lot. Viewers are much more likely to read what you have to say if you only put the information or images you want people to remember - and that's it!