The ‘net’worth!

Technology has transformed the way we not only communicate, but also do our business. As you continue to make a prominent presence online by uploading pictures, creating online forums and chatting with friends and friends of friends, it has become all the more important for you, as employees, to act responsibly and not misuse the benefits of such sites/blogs towards the company’s disadvantage. Here’s how you could covert a technological bane into lucrative boon…

Viren Naidu

   One of Caretel Infotech Ltd’s employees, Meha Bhatia who is into business development is using her presence on social networking sites (SNS) to get in touch with the top brass of big corporate houses; this helps her build new contacts that can eventually facilitate exploring business prospects. Many employees like Bhatia have come to realise the various benefits of utilising blogs and SNS towards the company’s advantage. Satyanarayana Vinjamoori, head–HR, ADP India says, “Human beings are gregarious by nature and any medium which enables them to achieve this basic instinct is always bound to succeed. The social networking site gives an individual the power to communicate by flattening the geography, area of expertise/knowledge, time barrier and at no cost. Moreover, these sites and blogs act as good forums to share, communicate, acquire or enhance an area of interest.” Rajita Singh, head–HR, Broadridge Financial Solutions India says, “A social network is made of individuals (or organisations) who are tied (connected) by one or more specific types of interdependency such as friendship, financial exchange, relationships, beliefs, knowledge, prestige, etc. The fast paced life that we lead has become a way to vent out feelings, emotions essentially and also get to know new people as the time for in-person meetings has come down and there is too much to do over the weekend.”
   At Progress Software, many of the key management team members including Ramesh Loganathan, MD & VP (Products), Progress Software India are on the company blog. They write about the emerging technologies and discuss use-cases and customer situations where their products service the needs. This is a continuing activity that gets them good dividends. Additionally, they do have their personal blogs. Here again, with
professional work life occupying at least 50 per cent of their life and mind, they end up blogging about technologies, et al related to work. These often help get some traction and business leads. Amaltas Retail looks at SNS as a boon. Their employees frequent these sites and explore this forum as an opportunity to talk about the latest products at LUSH or their other brands, therefore creating the buzz that is requisite in the market. Apart from generating awareness, employees can benefit and use these sites as this is the most suitable environ to build reputation, promote business and building relationships with people having same interests. Hari T, CMO and CPO, Mahindra Satyam says that you can use SNS towards your advantage through the following: 1) develop potentially professional relationships that is beneficial to the company, 2) employees, who engage in expressing their thought leadership on various subjects, can be seen as brand ambassadors of the company and 3) demonstrate the culture of the company through the extent and richness of your participation.
   But then every coin has two sides, right? Should companies restrict people from visiting such websites? Do such sites hamper productivity? And more importantly, can introducing a social media policy help in any ways?
   M.G. Parameswaran, ED & CEO, Draft FCB Ulka, Mumbai adds, “It has been noted in the US that blogs and websites have given rise to a form of virulent criticism of organisational behaviour. Strong criticism of management, supervisors, etc is very common in the US. While healthy criticism is important, strident form of criticism can be damaging to the morale of the organisation.” Loganathan adds, “At a basic level, social net sites are no different from just plain Internet browsing, so I don’t believe it is necessary to introduce a social media policy. While I agree that it tends to be addictive, at the end of the day, we are dealing with professionals, who deliver when clear goals and activities are set. How they deliver should be left to them. If the usage of the social networking sites is bothering their deliverables, it should again be left to them to assess and deal with. As an organisation, all we need to track is about the tasks and deliverables.”
   Therefore, the key lies in understanding your responsibility towards using such sites and using them only towards yours (as an employee) and your company’s advantage. And your employer will be only happy to oblige! Handle with care
Sangeeta Kamath, director – Amaltas Retail (Retailers of LUSH in India) advises how the following tips should be kept in mind before going a tad overboard with the usage of such websites as you wouldn’t want your productivity to be hampered at the workplace:
   Be aware of you responsibility towards your work and the organisation.
   Keep a tab of how much time you are investing on these SNS.
   Anything in excess is not good; too much of social networking can create fatigue in mind.
   Do not let SNS take control of your work life; know when to draw the line. In the net
Manisha Kelkar, chief- management development, Lafarge India Pvt Ltd suggests a few tips to utilise social networking websites responsibly:
   Don’t post any information about the company without getting approval from the corporate communications team.
   Avoid discussions on specific people/processes related to the company. Use their discretion and power of judgment before posting information.
   There are people who believe in malicious use of photographs and personal information; users should refrain from going overboard with their personal information.
   Change privacy settings that make sensitive information available only to friends.