Small to medium sized businesses have often got it easy, because they can solve issues and arrive at a consensus that defies normal business practices more easily than larger businesses. The big thorny issues usually crop up with large organisations. Social media campaigns can cut across every formal process in the company, disrupting every approval process, crossing every brand guideline, blurring reporting procedures and distributing the 'social media power' to those who are usually without authority. Entering the world of social media can be intimidating for large organisations, to say the least!

So, why bother? The critics have more than enough amunition to argue against taking the social media plunge. Why not let them win? The answer is that the risks of not participating in the social web can be equally as scary as the obstacles. Not listening, not engaging key audiences and not being online to take part in the conversation is today a business risk. In the era of user-generated content, leaving all comment and content on new media platforms to the public, your competitors and other audiences outside of your control has very real risks of its own. And, as those working in media will know, news expands to fill a vacuum. So, if your organisation is thrust into the spotlight against its will, know that if you don't talk others will. If that means teaching your organisation how to communicate all over again, then that's the price you'll (sooner or later) have to pay. And it's better to begin investing that time now than when you are forced to respond to a crisis or to play catch-up to your competitors later on.

For me, I would open the door for people at my company to use twitter if nothing but just to raise their morales which would motivate them in a way or another to give more. I do really understand when someone achieve something at work and is very proud of his achievement that he wants to share it with the world, that is so fullfiling! I know that I would want to do better just for the moment of telling everyone and getting their feedback. I feel it here at thoughtpick when I finish writing a post and then wait for people's feedback.

Following the right people is a key in getting the best out of Twitter. That is a great advice! I totally agree with you here :)

Twitter was never developed as a communication tool and this is one of the reasons that the attacks succeeded, just ask the developers and they arent happy at whats happening nowadays. First rule of an app is keeping your devs happy, which in recent months is not the case…

@beiruta Fact of the world is that individuals have been white-labeling for a long long time now, its only a matter of time that employees leave and cough up secrets. Did you read how Zuckerberg got facebooks idea? A good thought by you tho..

@FadiPick: From a developer tech perspective i have to agree with you. People shun tools and apps just cuz they don't know how to use them effectively.

Conclusion: To conclude yes i would encourage company members to use twitter, but not on company time unless its for a marketing or PR purpose. I think most CEO's use twitter themselves for different reasons. Bottom line is the $$$'s right? I would like to add that if you really want twitter to work for you then follow the right people for they WILL DEFINE YOU.

Thanks for your encouragement and hope you don't mind my $0.02. Always appreciate what you people are doing here!!

You don't just strip your business of all the benefits it can have of using a tool just because you can't manage it right.