More than a few companies are now blocking access to Facebook or Myspace or similar sites in order to boost productivity – but is that the real outcome? Not usually – it simply results in upset employees. The argument for blocking access is short sighted and flawed. Instead, companies should use the issue as an opportunity to build trust with the rank and file. Sure, make formal boundaries (reasonable rules and standards of use) and consequences – but don’t say no. Saying no by blocking these sites is almost silly. It’s like trying to stop young people from listening to music – it’s impossible, and frankly not logical. What did the progressive entrepreneurs and firms in the music business do in the face of rising online music piracy a few years ago? They started finding cool ways to give music away as a part of transitioning users into more productive and mutually beneficial relationships with the music industry – and today there is a thriving online business. They didn’t stop it, they facilitated it. In the current case, the issue is not about stopping the use of Facebook. Instead, innovative and progressive firms will ask questions like these:
- How can we use Facebook to achieve our goals?
- How can we help our employees use tools like this safely and productively?
- Can we create our own versions of these tools?
Imagine the organization capable of thinking like this. Imagine the hip and progressive young professionals they will be able to attract. Bottom line: individual productivity is not about the absolute number of hours you put in sitting in a cube. It’s about making the most of the hours you do put in and a huge part of that is socially connecting to people who are crucial to your work and your social life (which helps stress relief and also serves as an outside stimulus for creativity at work). This is classic resistance to changing societal trends – stop blocking the online social revolution and start dreaming about how to integrate it into everything you do.
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