Having recently come back into the HR world from data security (Symantec’s Data Loss Prevention Division), I saw A LOT of the fear mongering as the media jumped all over data loss and identity theft incidents (Heartland Payment Systems, TJX,etc.) that effected millions. Interesting to note that about 95% of data loss incidents were actually due to employee negligence, not “data theft”. So whether it is attorneys or chief security and risk officers, another channel (social media) to be protected and made idiot proof against malware attacks and data loss, does create increased fear and worry. There is always a difficult balance between risk mitigation and allowing creativity and business efficiency to flourish. That said, your point is spot on, those decisions should not be based on FEAR of anything, but a balance between the risk versus and benefits to the business…transparency and creativity are powerful business drivers when unleashed wisely.

You have to treat employees like adults. If you trust them enough to put a phone in their hand or give them access to e-mail, then social media is not any more dangerous.

I admire any social media HR person who attended that conference. I don’t think I could have kept my mouth shut. As in, they would have had to escort me out. I got quite animated at SXSW during a session with a Google Recruiter.

Jessica

@blogging4jobs

Even more of what is happening is: the lack of understanding, willingness to understand and an inability to learn and use social media to build balance between leadership, management, employees and align them with the company, products and clients.

I think what many people miss in the entire HR, Legal and Social Media conversation is the Social Media, just like marketing, communications (whether internal or external) is ONLY a TOOL. I remember the fear mongering about the internet, email and even Youtube. Now that people are more comfortable, the hype has died down a little.

What’s gonna happen when facebook, twitter, 4square or any other tool dies… nothing… another TOOL will replace it.

It is usually the 5% that mess it up for everyone else. Don’t be that 5%

@BenjaminMcCall

“The emergence of social networks demands total transparency. Your employee and candidate experience will be reported on, not just by word of mouth, but also perhaps via twitter or Facebook.”

could some of the fear stem from companies sensing their actual employee/candidate experience won’t stack up to how they promote it?

f

the whole post:http://www.brettminchington.com/thinking/23-social-media/72-social-media-and-employer-branding-so-whats-all-the-noise-about.html

Attorneys are trained specifically to identify potential problems and find ways to mitigate them. Business and life, however, don’t grow through risk mitigation, they grow through risk TAKING.

Biz today is heavily slanted toward mitigation… Which makes soc media particulalry scary: it represents a potential loss of control over customer communications, internal communications, hiring communications… In short, it potentially upsets the apple cart in any organization driven chiefly through the control of information… Ie, orgs driven by fear and risk mitigation.

Which is most of them.

So tell your stories, for sure, and then do more: bring others into the fold. Make them part of the conversation, even if all they have to add are questions like, “how do you…”

we are doing more than espousing social media here. We are combating fear.

This seems to be a big theme this week… I hope it stays that way!