Contrary to Popular Belief: Five Ways Social Media Can Boost Productivity
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"If you make customers unhappy in the physical world, they might each tell 6 friends. If you make customers unhappy on the Internet, they can each tell 6,000 friends." -- Jeff Bezos, CEO of Amazon.com. In most businesses, it's standard policy to restrict and discourage the use of social media during work hours. An average of just ten minutes of social media use daily, over the course of a year, adds up to over one week of work time (just under 42 hours). This may seem astonishing, but you can't argue with the math. Almost 90% of us sneak occasional peeks, but moderation remains key here: don't set out to break your organization's social media policy, and set some personal rules even if you do have permission to indulge. There's no doubt that when used irresponsibly, social media can damage productivity; however, in some circumstances and to some extent, social media can increase individual, team, and organizational productivity. Here are five simple ways your social media usage can boost productivity:
A Vast Wasteland? In a 1961 speech advocating more public and educational television, FCC Chairman Newton Minow called commercial television of that decade a "vast wasteland" compared to what had gone before, and what it had the potential to become. Today, many would agree with his rarely quoted earlier statement: "When television is good, nothing -- not the theater, not the magazines or newspapers -- nothing is better." The medium has the potential to be extraordinary: thought-provoking, entertaining, and educational. Many consider social media a vast wasteland today, packed with drama and self-absorbed citizens whose mere persistence on the platforms has made them celebrities. But like television, at its best it can be much better, connecting us in ways never thought possible, helping us sell our products, do research, and network effectively...while allowing in little rays of sunshine to brighten our lives during stressful times. Laura Stack, MBA, CSP, CPAE is an award-winning keynote speaker, bestselling author, and noted authority on productivity and performance. Funny, engaging, and full of real life strategies that work, Laura will change mindsets and attitudes so your people can maximize productivity, strengthen performance, and get the job done right. Her presentations at corporate events, sales kick-off meetings, and association conferences help audiences improve output, increase speed in execution, and save time in the office. Stack has authored seven books, including her newest work, Doing the Right Things Right: How the Effective Executive Spends Time (Jan. 2016). |
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