Your Employees Are Getting Social: Are You ready?

I have always believed that the employees are the best ambassadors of the company, its brands and products. The companies need employees to be represented in front of customers, competitors, and even future employees. It is clear for all of us that if employees are happy, they will share it with the people around- in offline or online scenarios. Online, for example, they will share pictures of the company events or they will tweet about the good time they have at work. Their friends will get this info (and maybe they will get jealous, too) and they will ask for more information and maybe for a job in that “so good” company. Other case could be when your employee’ friends can be your customers, and they will be buying your products, inspired by the company guy’s comments.

With the reach of the social media, the messages that you employees are delivering are part of the company communication, in an easier, informal and yet more powerful way.

The power social media has given to employees can be intimidating for many managers, especially if they are not familiar with the new channels. If as a manager you are getting anxious and even stressed because this is something that you cannot control, it is moment to take it easy -to take it forward. You cannot avoid social media anymore. You cannot control the employees’ communication but, you can help them to understand the importance of their communication and the role they play in increasing your company online presence.

  

The debate about prohibiting to use or to check the channels at work or not has been on the table for a while. Prohibiting employees to take part of the conversation can be more a problem than a solution. Ignoring the role that your employees can play in this social media game just because they don’t master the channels is a fail, too. Instead, arranging some basic workshop on how to use the media, what kind of tonality is appropriate, etc. might help you to canalize the message in the right direction and especially, to avoid negative surprises in the future. The most important thing to remember is to use this workshop to encourage your employees and to improve their confidence in using social media.

The social media channels are inexpensive and give you access to the entire world. See social media as a networking channel which will help you spreading your message and get fans and followers. Employees can see what is happening around your product and in your business. They can also perceive the direction that the industry is taking, and therefore, react on time and innovate.

If you are in one of those industries in which social media is not yet a common practice, enjoy, you are very lucky. Don’t wait for the other companies to go ahead, you have the chance to show how to do it first. Social media is happening, you cannot avoid this anymore.