Great post. I have been following your site since we met at the TCNG meet-up a few weeks ago. I am a strong believer and passionate about a lot of the same things you are. One of my biggest challenges this year has been trying to get my employer to buy in on the social networking side of business. For the last three years, I have generated a print and online newsletter for example, then I introduced a blog into it, then I delivered it through social media mediums. Then it got shut down. They decided they did not want to co-brand with me, despite that fact that it was working! I became very upset. Since then, I had to isolate myself in the social media world and not introduce my employer until the relationship is developed, blah, blah, blah… It just does not work towards my overall strategy. I back your ideas 110%.

Keep up the great posts.

Robert Stanke
http://www.robertstanke.com

As a recruiter I have asked for access to some social networking sites simply because it allows me to have access to people that I am looking for for positions for the company. This would be a business need. I requested access to Linked in, and occassionally would access my space for this reason. I do not, as a recruiter, see the need to access something like facebook, which in my usage since it started, seems more focused on the social side of things.

Many users of my space link a resume on the site. Not many of my friends have a resume on facebook, so, to me, it is clearly a social network and simply not work related at all. Larger organizations also have to consider the amount of internet time spent doing non work related things. Linkedin at work was almost impossible for me to use since it was very slow and using a lot of the band width that the web was needing for other usage.

The biggest fear for corporations is what they would consider even linked in usage as a job search tool for many. Additionally, having outside contacts that are not work related during work hours may be a potential for leaking of information. “Loose lips sinks ships” was a statement used during WWII to protect the ship yards where liberty ships were being built. Many companies, rightfully, fear the loss of intelligence to the rest of the business world, which may impact competitiveness. Sometimes the only edge a company is has is its secrets, ie, Cokes, or otherwise.

Companies use linkedin to pilfer employees. People may use it anyway, but why allow an employee to use a job search engine or to write a resume while on the job? The question is, is the network required for the job? Would you or anyone you know want someone to surf the web while at work? I am not talking about a minor look for an airline ticket or something while on a break, I am talking about surfing while you are supposed be doing what you are paid for. Simply, people are not paid to build or relate to a social network. Just as companies have limits on personal use of cell phones, the web is a source of potential non work focus. Even as a recruiter, I can get side tracked on linked in when the purpose of the access is to recruit, not to build and add and answer questions.

Americans are listed as some of the most productive people in the world, or lets say, American based companies, whether the employee is an American or not. I am not sure why companies need to allow employees to build and access social networks on their time and their dime. Employees have time outside of work for that. Yes, even though someone may be able to use a cell phone for that, many companies would limit cell phone usage.

No matter what, even though we are becoming a globalized society and open source information is all around us. Basically, there is really nothing free in life, with the exceptance that we have life as a gift. All else takes something, whether, money, time or effort. Companies have a right, in my estimation, to limit access to the internet, cell phone usage and access to personal emails and social networking. There are so many more reasons for it as well that a simple blog response would not cover.

All the best….joe slevin

On another note….sorry, but I have to yell at you…..DON’T CALL YOURSELF A “NOBODY!!!” You do some amazing things and are helping a ton of people, whether individuals or companies. You are definitely not a nobody!

The leading thinking is going on is often at cross purposes to the stated objectives of the company. You can pick up any of the contentious debates within a company and find all the same old arguments rehashed
again. Three points:

One: There is a LOT of information redundancy online. You don’t have to
read ALL the messages to discover the key idea if you are awake.

Two: Although we talk about fast learning and “internet speed”, but in
fact, as modern human beings, we’ve all built defensive walls around
ourselves to keep out unwanted “knowledge”. We learn slowly.

Three: Deconstruction of those walls can only be achieved from the
inside. Hence the importance of SOCIAL connection, because the
willingness to take the wall down occurs most easily if there is a
social reason to do so.

Can I have a FOUR?

Four: Firms that discourage social communication because it’s a “waste
of time”, take away the key that encourages new interaction with people
and new learning. As you say Adam, that’s a hard nut to crack in any real firm. The insecurity of managers is the key problem. Surely we need more communication not less. Managers are saying “only the communication we can control” and that effectively turns the light out.

How about this idea? How cells communicate to keep each other alive. I imagine that people communicate for the same reason. Teenagers incessant texting for instance. “I’m OK- You’re OK”.
http://www.ate.co.nz/networking/effectivesr.html (Screen Reading)
or
http://www.ate.co.nz/networking/effective.htm (Printable)

John