The core of anything “business” is relationship

The core of anything “business” is relationship. The healthier the relationships, the healthier the business.

I recently attended a breakfast event of a human resources association in my area. The guest speaker was an attorney who presented on the topic of “Social Media Impact on the Workplace.” The presentation provided guidance on how to develop a policy that adequately communicates acceptable use of social media by employees. By so doing, companies might minimize the risk of public disparagement by employees and maximize the potential for legal recourse when it happens.

The presentation was well illustrated by excerpts of U.S. labor law and a few poignant case studies. However, what really struck me was how adversarial the theme of the presentation was. The attorney spoke as if there is an inherent and constant contempt between a company’s management and its employees. 

Having been a manager in large corporations, I know without doubt that workplace harmony and productivity correlates to the quality of relationships among management and employees. When employees feel disrespected, unheard, or taken advantage of, it is usually because these relationships are poor. Social media then becomes a ready and convenient outlet for employees to vent their frustrations, which they don’t feel welcome nor safe enough to communicate to their managers. 

The risk of employees lashing out on social media is not minimized by “better” policy. Only authentic relationships in the workplace will ensure that. If owners and management will consciously devote themselves with humility and openness to building strong relationships with employees, those workers will become the company’s greatest advocates instead of its worst enemies.