Each night, I take my daily walk, and I have a list of topics that I discuss with my walking partner. Recently, we were discussing the challenges brought on by social networks, specifically how disruptive social-networking is to our normally very highly productive society, especially at work. You see, folks are so busy checking all the news, iPhone apps, text messaging their friends, and playing on Twitter and Facebook, that they are not getting a whole lot of work done. Personally, I feel this is somewhat unfair to those people that don't have a job but would really like one, those folks who would never in a million years play on Facebook while they were on the company clock.
Now then, there is another problem with social media and social networking, and that is it causes people to be somewhat scatterbrained. Almost as if everyone has turned into an ADHD case, where they can't concentrate for long periods of time on any given project. Obviously this is problematic if you are trying to get something done in your personal life, or at work. There are many things we have to do in our personal lives which takes time, effort, and absolute concentration, for instance doing your tax return.
Likewise, we all know the problems with text messaging, and people playing with their personal tech devices while driving, as these distractions are not only disruptive, but completely dangerous. Now then, on the other hand one can debate that with all the iPhone apps, and the improved communication, people are able to get more done in a day, and save time by using these social networking tools as business tools, therefore increasing productivity. Yes, in many regards that is also true.
If you are self-employed, you can use the increased productivity from your mobile tech devices, and still have the freedom without the leash, as you don't have to sit around by the phone and a computer all day. That's definitely nice, and no one can deny that. In fact, many entrepreneurs probably are already ADHD, and although these devices are making them worse on one hand, they are improving their productivity on another. Traveling sales and marketing teams are able to do more in a shorter amount of time, therefore saving fuel, increasing sales, and saving their company money.
It seems to me there is a trade-off going on, and companies are trying to use these technologies to get the most bang for their buck and the most productivity out of their workforce. If they refuse to allow workers to use social networking tools, and productivity applications, they may be missing the boat. Yet on the other hand if they do, they may be leaking sensitive company proprietary information, while wasting 20 to 30% of their payroll paying workers who are playing around on Facebook. Indeed I hope you will please consider all this and think on it.
Now then, there is another problem with social media and social networking, and that is it causes people to be somewhat scatterbrained. Almost as if everyone has turned into an ADHD case, where they can't concentrate for long periods of time on any given project. Obviously this is problematic if you are trying to get something done in your personal life, or at work. There are many things we have to do in our personal lives which takes time, effort, and absolute concentration, for instance doing your tax return.
Likewise, we all know the problems with text messaging, and people playing with their personal tech devices while driving, as these distractions are not only disruptive, but completely dangerous. Now then, on the other hand one can debate that with all the iPhone apps, and the improved communication, people are able to get more done in a day, and save time by using these social networking tools as business tools, therefore increasing productivity. Yes, in many regards that is also true.
If you are self-employed, you can use the increased productivity from your mobile tech devices, and still have the freedom without the leash, as you don't have to sit around by the phone and a computer all day. That's definitely nice, and no one can deny that. In fact, many entrepreneurs probably are already ADHD, and although these devices are making them worse on one hand, they are improving their productivity on another. Traveling sales and marketing teams are able to do more in a shorter amount of time, therefore saving fuel, increasing sales, and saving their company money.
It seems to me there is a trade-off going on, and companies are trying to use these technologies to get the most bang for their buck and the most productivity out of their workforce. If they refuse to allow workers to use social networking tools, and productivity applications, they may be missing the boat. Yet on the other hand if they do, they may be leaking sensitive company proprietary information, while wasting 20 to 30% of their payroll paying workers who are playing around on Facebook. Indeed I hope you will please consider all this and think on it.
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