When implemented properly, an enterprise social networking platform yields a number of benefits, with the final result being increased revenues. However, just like when you are implementing anything new at your company, you may encounter a few challenges.
Fortunately, for every challenge, there is a solution. What are some of the challenges your company might face when considering a social networking platform, and what can you do to overcome them? Learn a few in the following list:
Negative connotations associated with social media. When companies first hear about the topic of social media, some automatically think people will be sharing personal photos, wasting time chatting, or playing the latest social game.
However, employees and company leaders must themselves be educated on the benefits of appropriate workplace uses of an internal social network. Employees will have near instantaneous access to trusted internal experts, which helps them resolve workplace challenges quicker. They will also have a more open forum for talking with company executives, which builds their trust and increases their productivity in the long-run. These benefits must be communicated to company executives and employees in order to increase buy-in.
Non-centralized tools and communication. During implementation, it’s important to keep in mind that the whole point of an internal social network is to build unity. Sometimes, it can be tempting to offer different tools and social network segments for a variety of departments within the organization.
Remember to keep it as simple as possible by creating as few different segments for tools and communication as are needed.
Internal comparison to the major social media. At some point, your employees will begin comparing your social networking platform to the major social media outlets with which they are already familiar. Typically, when comparisons are made, they are made to show what is wrong with your platform.
Instead of getting drawn into all the negativity, acknowledge your employees’ frustration and help them focus on the benefits offered by the tool when it is used appropriately.
Avoid forcing your employees to use your social software. Companies choosing to use force typically experience corresponding resistance from their employees. However, if you show your workers how using your internal social networking platform benefits them, they will naturally buy into it as they see the results.
Show them how their questions are answered faster than before or how they can benefit by collaborating with people who make posts stating that they are facing similar challenges.
Once you learn how to use you social software to accelerate current business processes, everyone in your organization will buy into the concept, and you will begin to experience the primary benefits in many ways – including in regard to your bottom line.
Now that we told you how to overcome these obstacles, do you have your own stories of challenges your business might be facing with social networking platform integration? Share your challenge in the comments below – perhaps tibbr could help you find the solution!
