If you’ve been reading our blog, you’ve already learned many of the benefits of an enterprise social network, which include increased product quality, enhanced access to internal experts, and stronger communication between executive leadership and front-line employees, among many others. In addition to all of these benefits, however, an enterprise social network also enhances community, camaraderie, and teamwork among employees.
Of course, you have to engage in a thoughtful effort for using your organization’s social network in ways that foster unity. What are some methods you can use? Take a look at the list below to learn more:
- Introduce new employees. Have a subject set aside on your enterprise social network specifically for introducing new employees to the company. If you have a larger company where it’s not possible for the new person to meet everyone at the workplace within the first couple of weeks, this tactic can be especially effective. The employee could also post a short bio stating his or her professional experience, what led them to joining your company, and what about your company has impressed them so far. It makes for a great icebreaker when the employee meets their new colleagues in person.
- Encourage friendly competition. Let’s say you have a new marketing campaign coming up or perhaps you’re about to release a new product. Post a message announcing a competition to see who can submit the best title for the campaign or product. Everyone replies to the message with their ideas and at the end of the day, you announce the winner.
- Do “employee of the week.” A survey from the McKinsey Quarterly, showed that respondents view non-financial motivators—“praise from immediate managers, attention from leadership and a chance to lead projects or task forces” as just as effective as the three highest financial incentives: cash bonuses, increase base pay and stock options. Using an enterprise social network to recognize employees for their hard word amplifies the reward. Create a subject with posts for the employee of the week, or even a leaderboard subject where you reward employees for their active participation on the network.
These aren’t the only ways an enterprise social network could be used to build community. After reading these suggestions, can you come up with others that may work better for your company?
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