Despite a few notable exceptions, most people prefer the company of other humans. And while humans didn’t evolve into pack animals like dogs, we did tend to congregate and form large social groups to increase our odds of survival. Why? Because humans are wired with a “social” brain. Countless psychological studies have shown that our brains produce “happy” chemicals more often when we feel liked, affirmed and part of a community.
Our innate desire to connect with one another is vividly demonstrated every day by the countless inhabitants of online communities and social networks. So, when it comes to establishing strong employee/workplace bonds, businesses that tap into this human compulsion are ahead of the game.
3 ways social networks help companies succeed.
1.) Social connection makes people healthier.
For humans, social connection is as critical for mental health as food is for physical health. Research across the board shows that people with strong social connections are happier, more creative and actually live longer.
This need for connection applies in the workplace, too. Simply put, we are a species proven to work better within communal environments. So the use of enterprise social networking allows us a virtual break out of our cubicles and gives us a collective space for connection.
2.) Collaboration leads to more success.
From our earliest days of hunting and gathering, we humans learned that collaboration was crucial to our continued existence as more than saber-tooth tiger food. And you can see the fruits of those early human experiences in the workplace, as well. When team members join collaboratively on projects and goals, good things happen — more ideas are generated, morale increases, and end results are often better.
Through enterprise social networking, companies can provide the same kind of creatively charged place where colleagues can join together virtually. By removing the artificial isolation caused by time-zones and geography, collaboration takes on a whole new power to transform companies.
3.) New ideas make the future a better place.
Our human penchant for working together and solving problems didn’t just guarantee our survival (to this point, anyway), it also spurred us on to find new solutions and innovations. Humans famously fiddle with, break, then fix, improve, and ultimately invent new technology in our drive to enhance the human condition.
Not surprisingly, the Internet is a perfect platform for hosting tools and technology that make a measurable difference in the quality of our lives. Enterprise social networking is just such an addition, boosting the workplace experience via more community and collaboration. As social animals in the business world, humans need an inclusive, communal atmosphere to perform their best, and an enterprise social networking platform fits the bill nicely.
How to put human nature to work.
Everyday, successful organizations are proving that an Enterprise Social Networking platform encourages an invested, enthusiastic, and creative workforce. In the years to come the question won’t be “Does your company have an enterprise social network?” it’ll be “Why didn’t we do this sooner?”
So don’t wait. Get a hands-on demo of how tibbr can tap into human nature to improve workplace communication, collaboration, and innovation — sign up for a free trial now.
