The emergence of social networks created a division of opinions regarding their applicability in the professional world.
Considered by many as an enemy of productivity, social networks currently play an important role in the digital market. Increasingly the performance of companies in these networks has been attracting customers, consolidating brands and increasing the number of sales.
However, is the activity on these platforms still surrounded by controversy: Are social networks friends or enemies of productivity?
Social networks increase productivity in the workplace
This was the conclusion of a study by Warwick Business School , located in England.
According to this study, the use of social networks in work environments goes beyond distraction. What was observed was that the variety of social networking platforms contributes to people to develop their activities at work.
The option of using digital communication facilitated by social networks contributes to the collective tasks to be completed more efficiently. In addition, it enables employees to be able to respond more agilely.
Fast access to information that social networks allow new business models to be viewed as an empowerment of the employee, not a work overload.
The study also suggests that companies should ensure that their employees can control their own access to the information flow, connecting and disconnecting whenever necessary.
Obviously this attitude would start from the premise that employees have sufficient maturity to discern when and why use social networks to leverage productivity. The practice, however, is quite different. We'll talk about it later.
Social networks as a source of reliable and quick information
It is currently possible to look for anything on Google. Just as this has opened new horizons regarding access to information, this possibility also means a big problem.
There is no way to ensure that the information you seek will find a safe and suitable source to solve your problem. Exchanging in kids, people post whatever they want on the internet, and so it is becoming increasingly difficult to certify the truth of this information before reproducing it, which can endanger the reputation of your company.
In this respect, the social network becomes very valuable, because when looking for a certain information, the user can receive responses of capable contacts to give him such information.
Therefore, when you return to your question to the social network, you are able to receive more useful, accurate and quick information than if you are looking for one of the search engines.
The invaluable value of networking
Social networks contribute to building a networking that will help employees better perform their functions.
By building proper networking using the social network pertinent to work, their employees will be able to get important tips and counseling, stay on top of the main trends of the segment, and have the opportunity to expand their knowledge through Webinars and online courses taught on the platform itself.
In addition, companies can benefit from the resources of the appropriate social networks to discover new talents that can enrich their team and strengthen their business model.
The benefits exist. The traps of productivity as well.
As opposed to the results of the study mentioned above, some companies face the advent of social networks as traps to productivity.
While for some market segments, social media relevance has grown droadly and such platforms are used as important tools for establishing new business models, others treat digital communication with rejection.
Although both strands are correct, the usefulness of social networks is closely linked to the use that employees make it. A social network itself is neither good nor bad for business: it is simply. The use of it is that it will define its relationship with productivity.
Another study USAMP Research Institute has come to the conclusion that the spread of collaboration tools and social media causes companies to lose millions of dollars annually because of the loss of productivity.
According to the study, the three main reasons for productivity loss are:
- Constant breaks at work
A survey conducted using more than 500 email users indicates that 60% of constant breaks at work happen due to the use of social networks, text messages and instant messages, as well as the use of emails.
53% of these users spend about 1 hour a day due to distractions. What's more, 45% of the above number works only 15 minutes without distraining oneself.
- Distraction as a choice
One thing is a focused collaborator who is interrupted. Another thing is to choose to stop what you are doing to browse social networks.
The study commissioned by Haron.ie indicates that two in three people stated that they interrupt their work -related activities to digitally get into contact with someone else.
However, the great villain of productivity was the email, where 48% of the people interviewed said they used at these times of choice for distraction. Second comes the calls via cellular (35%). Shortly thereafter are messaging conversations (25%) and social network status update (12%).
- Difficulty in maintaining focus
The big problem with constant interruptions is the difficulty in maintaining focus on activities involving work.
The breaks make it impossible for the employee to have a flow of thought and concentration in order to perform his duties properly.
Common sense should always prevail
While the tools that block access to social networks and some sites can alienate and make it difficult for employees to work, the indiscriminate use of these resources and tools can become the great enemy of productivity.
The best attitude is undoubtedly education. Training your employee so that he himself develops a critical sense that allows him to have access to tools and to know how to use them with parsimony is to show that his business model is able to integrate freedom and functionality with balance.
