Facebook Faceoff

I’ve just been reading a piece on HRZone about people making unpleasant remarks about the boss on Facebook and other social networking sites. The article starts:

“Just over one in ten under 35 year-olds have posted derogatory or negative comments about their boss or employer on a social networking site, according to a study.”

This got me thinking. Why are a growing number of people resorting to this rather spiky method of communication?

In my experience very few companies allow or are comfortable with internal two way communications. They tend to prefer broadcast, one way methods in an attempt to keep control of the message. Open dialogue, or one way command and control. Which do you find more engaging, more purposeful?

I know of a few places where blogging in the business is encouraged, and in fewer places still, there are some reasonably senior figures actively involved and pretty much anything goes. So what happens? I see some controversy raging from time to time, and a lot of people appreciate a more open, two way, live feel about the comms. Debate happens, and quite often when a member of staff posts something a bit edgy, it will be other colleagues and peers who may speak up and challenge the point of view. More often than not there is a consensus reached, some useful learning has been…learned, and in the best examples I’ve seen action is taken. Improvement action. On the odd occasion discussion strays into something inappropriate, well just deal with it. Remove the offense, explain briefly why and get on with the next good idea, or discussion.

This open dialogue is an important part of visible or accessible leadership. Here’s a supporting idea for you if you are interested. “Visible Leadership is Great. Can we have some please?” http://bit.ly/azUreQ

Maybe, just maybe, more companies should be open to real dialogue within the business, and the real opportunities it brings. Perhaps that way more people will want to engage with improving the business and fewer people would feel the need to flame the boss on facebook or wherever. What do you think?

Is Playtime the new Worktime?

Quick round of Mario Kart anyone? I need to shift some work related stress.

I recently responded to a question on the training journal asking about multi user pc games for team building. I responded and suggested the rather quaint lemonade game (Google it if you are interested, v low tech fun).

Then today I spotted this interesting piece written by Brad Jennings.

http://bradda.wordpress.com/2010/02/26/online-gaming-to-solve-organisational-issues/

Brad seems like an interesting character. He’s busked on the London underground, taken the stage at speaker’s corner, and rapped in a Brixton nightclub. He also looks after channel communiucation for Vodafone UK.

I think he’s onto something here, as is the woman on the training journal. Brad’s keen to know of any organisations getting involved in the use of games to solve organisational and even customer issues. Has anyone here got any experience of this they’re willing to share? Hope so – it’s an interesting subject.