My oldest daughter, 15 going on 25, has become a fan of a Facebook page called Parents call it “Back Talk” we call it “explaining why their wrong”. I should have expected it. After all, I was the same way at the same age.
But here’s the thing . . . the page reached ONE MILLION fans within nine days of its debut! Much has been written about the influence this generation possesses due to their comfort with today’s technology. But ask yourself,
“How do I, as a manager, cope with this in the work environment?”
1. How aware are you of the technology your young contributors are using? It’s one thing to know about Twitter, Facebook, MySpace, etc. It’s another to experience them. Spending even a couple minutes here and there exploring these applications will give you an appreciation for both their value for and impact on the workplace. Ask people what applications they are using and remember that this is certainly not confined to those 25 and under.
2. How can you use this technology to your advantage? Increasingly, much of communication is migrating to electronic platforms. Brainstorm with others about how to connect with customers using these applications. Explore partnerships with other organizations who market to the same people. Simply use it as a way to share knowledge within the organization using wikis and other platforms.
3. How can you best set reasonable parameters on the use of this technology while on the job? One one hand, you can’t stop it, no matter what you try. On the other hand, use of this technology can run a muck and damage the organization’s reputation, not to mention harm productivity, if not held in check. For a good example of how to manage this review IBM’s policy on social networking.