How to Create a Positive Organizational Culture to Reduce Internet Misuse
Misuse of the Internet at work can cost an organization thousands of dollars in lost productivity from each employee. Even an hour each day lost to Internet misuse by a single employee, at ten dollars per hour, adds up to $2,500 per year. While your organization can block websites or install software to monitor employees' activities, this can have a negative impact on the work environment. Fostering a positive organizational culture, on the other hand, can itself reduce misuse of the Internet. If employees feel their work is more rewarding than the distractions provided on the Web, they are less likely to spend time surfing the Web.
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Lead by example and demonstrate the behavior you want to encourage in others. If someone recommends a video on YouTube, for example, tell them you will be certain to check it out when the workday is done. Leaving your door open when working at your own computer will help to foster a sense of openness in the office as well as showing employees that you do not lock yourself away to surf the Web.
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Talk to your employees. Let them know their value to you as their manager and to the organization as a whole. If employees believe management does not care about them, they are less likely to adopt management objectives as their own.
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Talk to your employees about their career goals, their dreams and aspirations. Help them to see how their daily efforts at work will benefit their long-term goals.
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Provide training to employees to help them advance their professional goals and to be more effective in their work. Investing in employees will encourage them to invest their own time in their work.
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Foster a sense of teamwork among employees by encouraging employee-run meetings, brainstorming sessions and social activities. When employees understand how important their individual efforts are to their coworkers, they are more likely to focus on the work at hand.
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Set goals at an individual and group level. Discuss with employees how they can meet those goals and why they are important to themselves personally as well as to the organization.
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Reward employees for their productivity. Rewards can range from annual bonuses to departmental pizza parties. Recognize individual achievements as well. A congratulatory email, with a copy sent to upper management, or even a pair of movie tickets, will let employees know that good work does not go unnoticed.
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