{"id":2435,"date":"2013-06-11T07:00:43","date_gmt":"2013-06-11T11:00:43","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/enterprisestrategies.com\/?p=2435"},"modified":"2015-07-27T21:03:00","modified_gmt":"2015-07-27T21:03:00","slug":"putting-people-back-into-social-initiatives","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/enterprisestrategies.com\/2013\/06\/11\/putting-people-back-into-social-initiatives\/","title":{"rendered":"Putting People Back Into Social Initiatives"},"content":{"rendered":"
How much time did you spend online today?<\/p>\n
Now, how much time did you spend talking to someone on the phone or in person?<\/p>\n
More than likely, the computer and virtual world dominated your day. That\u2019s not necessarily bad–there are so many amazing things we can accomplish through social tools and technology. (Trust me, I love social media! Our consulting firm is a social business consulting firm after all.) However, there is a danger in social business to forget about people–the ones who need to benefit from social processes<\/a>.<\/p>\n Of course, this doesn\u2019t mean that you have to have a cup of Starbucks with every employee who is using internal or external social media. For companies implementing a social business strategy, though, people must be the first priority. Why put employees first?<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Social business is not only about technology–it is about how people use that technology. If companies do not take the time to learn what is challenging employees and causing them delays or frustrations, they will miss real problems and make the wrong (and often expensive) solution investments. Having cutting-edge technology is a huge advantage, unless that technology doesn\u2019t help employees at all. New tools are not always necessary, but having a strategy for how employees use new or existing social tools is essential.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/a><\/p>\n Often there is a learning curve for employees with new tools and technology. It will take considerable time for teams to adjust to a new way of doing business, especially as they continue to perform their normal responsibilities. Before adopting social tools, companies must consider how employees will realistically use them. If the tools are not the right fit for company operations or culture, employees will waste valuable time learning a new platform that will be ignored. Moreover, they may spend additional time learning even newer technology to replace earlier tools that are being underutilized.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Brands go beyond logos and catchphrases. Most businesses understand that employees can be their best or worst representatives<\/a>. Their actions online, whether at work or at home, reflect on your company. If organizations fail to garner employee support for social initiatives, their lack of enthusiasm could spill onto social media. Lack of employee endorsement and support could create poor publicity and nightmarish delays with social media implementation.<\/p>\n <\/p>\nThey may realize that new social tools are not the answer.<\/h4>\n
They have limited time to waste at work.<\/h4>\n
They are your brand–whether you like it or not.<\/h4>\n
They posses information and knowledge you need.
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