Entrepreneur: Can Social Media Also Boost Productivity?
Burton Goldfield’s own HR consulting firm uses Facebook and Twitter for internal communications and social collaboration, and he says more and more big companies are doing the same. More small businesses should as well, he argues.
“Social media may be all the rage for building brands and connecting with customers, but what some entrepreneurs might not know is that many companies are using social networks for internal communication as well. These tools can help business owners align corporate goals, drive employee engagement and streamline operations. The practice has become widespread in many large U.S. companies and other technology-savvy businesses, but many smaller companies have yet to catch on. For the uninitiated, here’s a look at the uses and benefits of internal social networks.
My company and many others are using Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn, YouTube, our blog, as well as internal networks such as Microsoft Communicator and Central Desktop. These so-called Web 2.0 tools can help centralize activities within a company and foster collaboration among inter-departmental groups. These efforts can help an organization stay nimble and better compete with larger, more established competitors. Many junior employees already use Web-based applications as their primary means of communication, and their older colleagues are coming on board.”