Social Media: Friend Or Foe Of Productivity?

They are questions that are being asked in workplaces around the country (and probably the world): Should employees be entitled to access social media for personal reasons during a workday? Is access to social media helping or hurting our business? How does personal access impact productivity?

There are clear examples of social media in the workplace reaping benefits — and PR professionals are generally charged with pursuing them. Managing fan pages that build channels of communication and good will with your customers. Monitoring multiple social media channels to better understand how people view your products. Blogging on behalf of your business. Texting when customers or clients know that's the best way to reach you.

But many company leaders are finding that they're having to develop social media policies that discourage employees from using their personal social media accounts during business hours.

What's prompted this?

Unfortunately, social media can be addictive. Some people have a compulsive need to monitor their Facebook or Twitter accounts. They feel a need to be the first to hear breaking news on everything from Lindsey Lohan to President Obama. Some can't stand to be “out of the know.” Some enjoy the attention that comes with being able to break news to their friends and colleagues.

Apps like Tweetdeck aid the addiction by constantly interrupting to “flash” and/or beep postings from their personal networks.

These are early days for social media and most businesses are tolerant if addictive behavior doesn't affect an employee's productivity. We all have quiet times during a day when we can take care of one or two personal tasks.

But, if you are accessing your personal social media accounts when you have a work deadline looming or others are awaiting your input before they can meet their deadlines, consider the impact. How does if affect your colleagues and how does it look to them that you value social media interaction over meeting your obligations to your work team?

Social media is public, so everyone from the boss to the person in the office next to you has the opportunity to observe when you're online utilizing social media.

So, before your company feels forced to set up ground rules for social media, do a little soul searching. Are you using social media for personal expression when you should be focusing on your work? Have you dropped the ball on a project or missed a deadline yet found plenty of time to post on Facebook or tweet out during the work day?

Like any personal activity conducted during your workday, common sense and respect for your job and colleagues should be your guide.

Is social media your friend or your foe? A tool to help you do your job better? Or a thief that steals productive time from your day?