Maybe.
Being axed for a blog post is painful. Sometimes it is deserved as when an employee blogs about the details of their compensation and bonuses. But it’s deserved only when the company has made very clear, again and again, that sharing their compensation details in a blog or in conversation in the hallways is...a breach of trust, that it creates problems for everyone (when have two people compared their comp plans and both walked away feeling happy?).
On the other hand, blogging is just a platform for a broader audience. These discussions took place before blogging. They take place outside of a blog. Bloggers have the conversation away from their blog. Those who don’t blog join them or have the same conversation sans bloggers.
The issue isn’t blogging. The issue isn’t a blogging policy. The issue is what companies are doing to inspire their customers and employees.
- Do you trust each other? Do you hire people who value trust?
- Have you hired and kept adults, relatively healthy adults? Can they handle responsibility and be accountable?
- Have you communicated limits clearly, not for blogging, but for conversation?
- Does everyone feel they can turn to you, each other, to find a solution to their complaint?
- Are they inspired by your purpose? Are you inspired by your purpose?
The answers to those questions form the topics of their conversation, on blogs or not, with or without your permission.
Blaming blogs or bloggers is like blaming the messenger. It's easy, it's fun and you can do it in your home. And axing them is like axing your nose to smite your face. It too is easy and quick. But the problem only worsens as everyone can see and hear about it now.
istock photo by NickS
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