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First came firms placing information on a Web page, and sending and receiving e-mails. Now, companies should consider embracing Facebook, LinkedIn, text messaging, Wiki company manuals that employees help write, and other new concepts. Steve Prentiss, CEO of Canadian corporate education firm Bristall-Morgan, calls this awareness of new technology “Web 2.0.”
“Facebook seems like a toy to a lot of companies. But what I say is that this is your opportunity to discover the other 90 per cent of your employees’ potential. Things like blogs are often thought of as just toys for students and kids. But you know, if you’re trying to attract bright, motivated employees to your company, a lot of them aren’t going to read memos in the traditional way that older employees would. A blog is a fantastic way of connecting with potential employees and existing employees, business opportunities, leads new jobs — it’s a fantastic opportunity.”
Prentiss says new technologies can help employees of all ages to multitask and stay connected.
“We’re living in a unique time when there are four distinct generations in any given work place. And it doesn’t mean that the older generation’s rejected this technology. I have many people in their sixties and older who use this very regularly. So things such as traditional meetings, traditional nine-to-five work hours — these things are changing as people are expecting flexible time, the opportunity of working outside the workplace, around the 24-hour clock, globally with global clients. Proactive companies who see this grasp this in these early days. This is the future, certainly.”
Prentiss says employees learn 75 per cent of their knowledge from practical experience and from connecting with other employees.
Ed Mayberry, KUHF Houston Public Radio News.