Business Communication
Social media for employee interaction
Social media has one of the fundamental tools in communication. This is particular to the employees in an organization. Through social media, the stakeholders in the organization are in a position to collaborate, solve the problems affecting them, and share ideas. A recent research stated that more than 82 percent of the employees have a belief that social media can improve their relationship in the organization. On the other hand, more than 60 percent of the employees believe that social media is critical in enhancing the decision-making process in the organization. This explains the desire of many employees in the organization to want to connect with their colleagues. This is facilitated by social media and even so during the working hours in the organization. On the other hand, many employers believe that it is social media in modern society that is killing p0roduction in the organization. Most employers support that the employees should be blocked from accessing social media during normal working hours. However, the use of social media in normal working hours may not reduce the productivity of the employees, but it may impact the retention of the employees in the organization. Several social media platforms are evident in many organizations in modern society. They include Facebook, Twitter, and also LinkedIn. Some of the employees argue that they have been motivated to work by accessing social media blogs. Altogether, the use of social media cannot be ignored in modern society at the place of work. Most of the employees have utilized social media and this has enhanced the sharing of ideas and improving work experience in the organization.
Communication Technology of Social Media
Social media is ideally, a platform that is created to allow individuals to keep in touch. Thus socialization of a small community is enabled. The platform created thus becomes an essential forum especially in discussions such as the frivolous as kittens. Some are also internationally significantly, for instance, the world leaders in a flame war. Some of the conversations are not limited to the members of the same organization, however, they may be limited from access by some individuals. Many organizations in the modern world have realized the significance of social media. For instance, it may provide content of marketing through giving of advice and some of the best practices, and this is ultimately in a position to convert people to customers and brand evangelists. The power of social media is exhibited where the employees can share something and reach other people through their network. The chain continues where the information can be re-shared to their networks reaching even more people. Therefore, the use of social media is not only important to the employees of a particular organization but also in evangelizing the brand of the company. Altogether, the productivity of the company is enhanced through the use of social media.
Advantages of using social media in an Organization
There are several advantaged that are attributed to the use of social media in the organization. The first critical aim of social media in the organization is to have a mental break among the employees and other stakeholders in the organization. This is according to the PRC survey. The survey argued that the taking of mental break by the employees is not to be discouraged in the organization. There are many employers in the modern organization that has agreed that it is paramount for their workers to have a brief, periodic break during the working hours. The employees who take these breaks by using social media in the organization aid to avoid distracting the other employees in the organization by not talking to them one on one. However, the survey recommends that the use of social media in an organization should be used responsibly. The employees should not be excessive in using social media. The other advantage that is linked with the use of social media in the organization is that the employees can enhance the solving of problems affecting them. In most cases, the employees are faced with a critical problem that can only be solved through chats in social media. At the time of taking the short brief, they are then free to discuss the problem and challenges they are going through. For instance, a particular employee in the organization may have a serious problem that he cannot solve, and social media become the only answer. One is in a position to pose a question in a social media platform and a couple of answers are received instantly. The answers provided are usually essential in solving a particular problem affecting the employee. Thus the use of social media in the organization by the employees may aid in getting multiple and new perspectives, usually very quickly and without cost.
Social media on the other hand has strengthened and built personal relationships with coworkers. It is through the use of social media where the employees in a particular organization are in a position to interact freely, thus building a better relationship. When the employment relationship is made strong, this implies that the employee is in a position to lead a more productive and cohesive environment among the team. Ideally, it is through social media where the communication between and among the stakeholders is strengthened leading to increased engagement. Besides social media is always accessible even to the workers who are not in the place of work. At this time the employees are in a position to interact and improve employee morale. Finally, social media has boosted organization productivity. This is the ultimate benefit that is inclined with the use of social media in the organization. The use of social media enables unlocking productivity for some of the employees in the organization. A study by McKinsey Global Institute proved that about 72 percent of the companies in modern society has encouraged the use of social media, not in full force. These companies encourage the use of the internal social media site and this is in a position to improve productivity to about 20 to 25 percent.
Disadvantages of using social media in an organization
Several demerits are attributed to the use of social media in an organization. For instance, it has encouraged laxity in the organization. The employees may not fully cooperate in their normal duties due to the use of social media during work hours. Some of them spend a lot of time chatting and especially to friends who may not add value to the productivity of the Company. Besides, social media may lower the productivity of the workers in the organization. In most cases, employees are unable to exercise their duties efficiently by using social media. Ideally, it is usually addictive therefore, one may not in a position to limit its use.
My recommendations
- One of my recommendations is that every organization needs to encourage the employees to use social media based on the merits that are attributed to its use. We are living in a modern society thus, no one should have guts to discourage its use.
- I am suggesting that organizations should limit the use of social media by the employees. if used limitless, it may harm the productivity of the workers in particular and the organization in general. The internal control systems (ICS) of the company should monitor its use.
- Finally, I am suggesting that the implementation of use f social media in the organization should be purposely used to aid in improving the production of workers. For instance, it may be used to solve the problem facing the employees and the sharing of ideas among them.
References
https://www.randstadrisesmart.com/blog/5-must-have-social-media-guidelines-employees
https://theolsongroup.com/5-reasons-social-media-workplace-can-help-employees/
https://link.springer.com/article/10.1057/bm.2015.42