As a manager you have a full plate with tasks, responsibilities and worries. There was a time, even just a few years ago, when the Internet was really viewed as a threat by managers trying to keep their employees in check. However, today the opposite is true, and the Internet and wide world of web 2.0 can provide a great advantage for all managers.

It's understandable why as a manager you may still be skeptical about your employees on the Internet during the workday. Are they just wasting their time on an instant messenger system? Are they talking about a new project that's supposed to be kept in house? Are they looking at illicit material?

All of these are valid concerns, but in truth with all of the web 2.0 tools that are available today there are more benefits than risks. For example, you can instantly check in with what your employees are doing by requiring everyone to be logged in or available on a messaging system. It will be even quicker than email or phone, let alone a trip to their office.

You can also create shared calendars and goal lists that your entire organization can utilize and work from. Then you will be able to keep tabs on what projects are getting completed, who is doing what and what is coming up in the future.

You can even expand the reach of your organization by delegating social networking responsibilities to certain employees. You've seen that Bob is always on Twitter, OK, let him stay on there and create a company account that drives traffic and sales in your direction. Have him learn how to utilize new tools like Wooxie to combine the powers of multiple platforms.

The world is at your fingertips with web 2.0. As a manager, it's natural to be skeptical about what may seem like a big distraction. But really, these tools and services can provide you with a great deal of benefits.