You have spent a great deal of time creating an environment where your employee’s can share information openly. You have invested in the tools and created a culture of openness. You are proud to say that your staff are not just co workers, they are friends. 99 percent of the time you are very proud of that fact. 1 percent of the time it can be a bit unproductive. You want to be sure that these friends are working on their new business instant messenger, not planning the interdependantal picnic and softball tournament. A knee jerk company may not give these employee’s a business instant messenger because of this fear. You, you’re smarter. You know how to use a little bit of finess. Here are some tips for encouraging your friendly staff to keep it work and not play. 1. Limit who can be on the buddy list. Sure, giving everyone leave to choose their own friends would be easier on IT, but the odds that it will be productive are slim. Assign users a friends list based on work group, job role and projects. That way they can chat, just with people they have actual business with. 2. Make your presence known. A boss who is using the business instant messenger, and who is periodically talking to staff will not only be in touch, but will remind staff what the tool is for. Just remember that you have to set a good example. The staff will take its cues from your behavior. 3. Set a policy, and make the staff aware of it. Despite how it may feel, your staff are not out to shirk. Most people want to do their job well. Guiding then with a policy will help. Now, you can set up your business instant messenger with the confidence that you can help your staff to use it the right way.
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