Social media in the workplace

Information

You've heard the hype, but how useful is social media really? Share your experiences, comments and questions.

Members: 105
Latest Activity: Apr 12

Why all the hype about social media?
Check out this YouTube clip.

This new sub-group on using social media in the workplace is inspired by some interesting conversations in The Employee Engagement Network on this topic already, around a thread started by Judy McLeish.

This group is aimed at:
- Connecting people who are interested in this topic.
- Creating an FAQ resource for using social media in the workplace.

If you're new to the group...
Please tell us about your interest in social media. You can also ask a question or join the discussion in the forums section. Feel free to start a new discussion topic about social media in the workplace.

A few thoughts to begin with...
Why should we consider introducing yet more tools when a lot of organizations can't seem to get event the basic tools right? Manager Tools, one of the top-rated business podcasts, urges managers to set up weekly, 30 minute one-on-ones with direct reports. A lot of managers don't seem to have the time, and given the lack of face to face interaction in organizations, uncertainty about social media is understandable.

We've seen on the one hand, a tendency for advocates to over-hype and over-promise what social media can deliver. On the other hand, some people are dismissive without really knowing enough to make an informed decision. Social media shouldn't lead us to throw away our common sense, and awareness of the bigger picture, but at the same we need to be able to make informed decisions about it, so I encourage you to share your experences, comments and questions.

Discussion Forum

Using Social Media for Recognition and Engagement 3 Replies

Started by Drew Hawkins. Last reply by Fayez Gase Apr 27, 2010.

CSCW 2.0

Started by Fayez Gase Apr 26, 2010.

Social media for professional networking 9 Replies

Started by Jon Hoel. Last reply by Adam Hibbert Dec 28, 2009.

Engaging the distributed workplace using Ning 3 Replies

Started by Jon Hoel. Last reply by Jon Hoel Nov 27, 2009.

Social media and you

Started by Jacqui Kibby Oct 20, 2009.

Social media workshops

Started by Jacqui Kibby Oct 9, 2009.

Deloitte on "why online communites fail" 3 Replies

Started by Eric Brown. Last reply by Jeff Seevers Jun 23, 2009.

Ten Tips for Using Social Media to Engage Employees? 15 Replies

Started by Michael Netzley. Last reply by Phil Gerbyshak Jan 4, 2009.

Determining the value of social media in your communication 1 Reply

Started by Jon Hoel. Last reply by Jean Douglas, CMC Nov 28, 2008.

Ask The Group: Social Media FAQ 4 Replies

Started by Jon Hoel. Last reply by Jon Hoel Nov 26, 2008.

A Connection Between Prediction Markets and Employee Comms?

Started by Michael Netzley Jul 23, 2008.

What are some of the barriers and pitfalls?

Started by Jon Hoel Jun 30, 2008.

View All

Comment Wall

Comment

You need to be a member of Social media in the workplace to add comments!

Comment by George Leff on July 18, 2010 at 10:25am: My name is George and I just recently joined the group. David Zinger said it would be alright to post a blog regarding a new private social media employee engagement tool, we call Speechbobble. Here are a few features of the platform:
• Speechbobble is an all in one social business tool; reduce costs by eliminating the need for several
different applications
• Encourage collaboration through conversations surveys and polls across the entire workforce
• Centralize communication
• Receive responses and feedback in real-time
• Connect employees who are geographically displaced
• Define influencers in order to plan a future workforce strategy
• Identify rising organizational issues in order to make strong business decisions and manage misinformation
• Customized, fully endorsed social networking experience Unlike
other social media networks Speechbobble always ensures the strictest privacy and
security of your data

• You control system access
• You retain ownership of all corporate data
• Your information is never in the public domain

I will be doing a live online demonstration this Friday July 23rd at 10:00 am (EST). If you care to see how it works please send me your request at george@agiledudes.com.

It would be great to get your feedback.

See you then!
George Leff

Comment by Chris Hewitt on December 13, 2009 at 12:57pm: I work for a part of the NHS which specialises in IT solutions for the whole NHS which is ironic given that our intranet seems so outdated. Now I'm looking to introduce social business software but the ICT clan wants to protect its Microsoft stack and move to Sharepoint 2010. I am far from convinced this would be the best move and have been looking closely at Jive SBS and an open source platform called cyn.in. Anyone got any experience/views around these considerations?

Comment by Carolyn Ray on September 9, 2009 at 10:46pm: Hi everyone, Just wanted to let you know about an IABC International Conference on Employee Communications in Toronto Oct 22-23. I'm co-presenting about dialogue, social media and internal communications with Jennifer Rock from Best Buy (US) who is done amazing things to engage employees. Program is http://www.iabc.com/education/ec/index.htm. I also invite you to visit www.national.ca/startthedialogue to read about our study on social media as the #1 trend in internal communications. Would love your thoughts and feedback! Thanks!

Comment by Lee White on September 3, 2008 at 10:50am: :-P

Comment by Lee White on September 3, 2008 at 10:49am: Suggestion for a alternate photo for this group:

Comment by Lee White on September 3, 2008 at 10:45am: I think there is a great case to be made linking the use of social web tools in the enterprise and employee engagement. I just posted this to my blog, which by the way is targeted more at the Enterprise 2.0 folks than the audience here, but I think that allying these two groups can have great outcomes.

Comment by David Zinger on August 27, 2008 at 5:53pm: Here is a 42 minute video presentation of Clay Shirky presenting on his book Here Comes Everybody. I love the main premise: Group Action Just Got Easier. I believe this means a lot for engagement.

Comment by Eric Brown on June 30, 2008 at 9:08pm: Denise - Great thought. I agree wholeheartedly. Many leaders today are so focused on their 'area of expertise', they forget to stop and look around and see if there are other / better ways of getting the job done.

Comment by Denise O'Berry on June 30, 2008 at 8:07pm: Social media is just another method / channel for engaging the people in the workplace. It may not be appropriate for all companies.

The resistance begins with the people in leadership positions today. Many of them made their way up the ladder because of their technical competencies - what they were good at. In the past, and sadly continuing today. most organizations don't prepare their leaders to lead or manage. The leaders are "too busy" doing the wrong things so of course they don't want to embrace another method for strengthening the employee relationship and improving employee engagement.

Until we shift the leadership in an organization to the correct focus area, they will continue to resist. Once they are focused on what they should be doing, getting them to embrace new tools won't be as big of an issue.

Comment by Jon Hoel on June 29, 2008 at 12:26am: Just in case anyone's wondering, I'm not connected with Manager Tools podcast - just a fan!