Facebook is usually considered a no-no at work. Whilst a blind eye is often turned to people using the company internet connections to shop at Amazon or even book a holiday, the sight of that blue and white logo is usually a cause for concern amongst managers. However, whilst employees staying in touch with their friends may be frowned upon, many companies are establishing their own presence on Facebook and, the next big thing in social networking, Twitter.

The companies see the value of social networking as a way of promoting and developing their business. Facebook has 90 million users and is the fourth most trafficked website in the world. Furthermore, whilst many make the assumption that Facebook is for teenagers to discuss their wayward lifestyles, more than 50% of Facebook’s active users are over 25.

LinkedIn now has 23 million users with an average age of 41. It is growing faster than Facebook. Many professionals in the creative industries treat Facebook and Twitter as a routine part of their business day. Similarly, a presence on YouTube or one of the other video sharing sites is seen as essential. Indeed, for many professionals the question is no longer whether or not to use the social networking sites, but which ones to use.

These websites can provide personal PR and keep people up to date on events, trends and opportunities. Knowing about social networking is bound to become an essential part of marketing and sales training.

It seems to be generally accepted that the two most commonly undervalued assets within a business are its people and its information. Clearly any issue that affects both of these assets is of crucial importance, yet many companies feel they can get by without properly structured management training which takes into account ongoing and projected IT requirements.

Even within a small company the time taken to carry our routine IT tasks soon takes over people’s time. Something as basic as the installation of new software and ensuring firewalls and defence from computer viruses are up to date can steal large chunks of a person’s time, especially when they have not been properly trained to do these things.

Often these tasks are done by somebody towards the bottom of the chain. After all, that young guy in the post room may well be far more comfortable with computers than the managing director. However he is usually expected to carry out all his normal duties as well as sorting out the IT systems.

Even senior managers are routinely asked to do tasks which require a high level of IT competence without being offered the necessary training. A typical task might be to integrate the company’s various databases. However, to do this as efficiently and cost effectively as possible requires specialist knowledge on software procurement and design.

You’re probably very tired of hearing the terms ‘credit crunch’ and ‘recession’ by now, but unfortunately these are the times we live in. The question has to be, what can you do to maximise the chances of staying employed?

One way of staying ahead of the pack is to ensure that you have a competitive advantage over fellow employees. Often the only difference will be soft skills training. If technical skills are similar, how else does an employer decide who to keep and who to ‘let go’?

Some surveys have suggested that 85 per cent of someone’s success can be attributed to their soft skills rather than technical skills, education and training. Here are some tips.

Dress professionally. In fact, dress for the job you would like to have. Dressing smartly not only projects a better image, but can help you feel more professional in your approach to work.

Appreciate people. If someone has done something well, tell them. Smile at people; they will smile back.

Answer phone calls and emails as promptly as possible, even if you can’t deal with the query in full. People like to know what’s going on.

Ensure you treat your emails as you would a business letter. Be succinct and to the point. Check spelling and grammar. Think carefully before forwarding email or sending replies to all.

It may sound obvious but communication skills are essential to all interaction in whatever context. It is essential therefore, that good listening and speaking skills should be on anyone’s personal development agenda. If there are any specific communication issues within the business then behavioural training can be used to improve the situation.

There have been various estimates of the amount of communication which is verbal and non-verbal. Typically, verbal communication is said to account for less than ten per cent of communication overall. It is therefore vital that you observe and take note of all the non-verbal language conveyed by gesture, voice, and facial expression.

Effective listening involves far more than hearing. It requires an understanding of what the person is saying. If the meaning is not clear then question that person. Don’t make assumptions about what they are saying or focus on saying what you want to at the expense of true two-way communication.

The following are some suggestions to help with effective listening. Pay attention. Show this by responding in a way that shows you are not only listening, but also understand what is being said. Do not interrupt.

When speaking, use straightforward language. Do not speak too fast or gabble. Take pauses to allow ideas to sink in. Take time to understand how to deliver ideas in the richest way possible. Vary the pace and intonation of your voice as much as possible yet still sound natural.