Q: What do you call a giant employee directory on steroids?

A:... Facebook.

By Annie Waite, Global Editor of the Internal Comms Hub, Melcrum

That's according to Michael Rudnick of Watson Wyatt (and the Hub's guest social media expert) who noted in his workshop this week at Melcrum's Strategic Communication Summit in Chicago, that what employees want is personalisation (see pic). And it doesn't get much more personal and "friendly" than Facebook.

Michael suggested that all attendees should take a few moments to search for their organisation on Facebook - and promised they'd be surprised by how many employees appeared. One delegate mentioned later in the conference that she took the advice, and his prediction was correct...from the sounds of things, there'll be some red faces at her firm when she returns from the conference! HR managers, take note.

(You can view a clip from Michael's presentation as an Internal Comms Hub trialist or member.)

Other presenters also highlighted that if you don't provide a means/website for employees to provide constructive criticism or celebration of their company somewhere that's sanctioned and encouraged by the company, and that offers an opportunity for two-way communication, then there's really nothing to stop them posting on the topic elsewhere, unmonitored.

Similar to Mandy's comments about the Social Media conference in Amsterdam, I too picked up on the reluctance – or resigned acceptance – of some organisations that they "were going to have to" use social media tactics at their organisation.

If there was one key message running through all the presentations, roundtable discussions (see pic, right) and dinner break-out chats, it was that in order to grab the interest and respect of many of your existing employees and those hot on their heels, you simply have to at least pilot some social media strategies to see if it works for your organisation, and to keep up with external trends.

But does anyone disagree? Can anyone provide an example of a commercial organisation that's confident in getting by without implementing any social media options?

Soundtrack to the blog: "Face to Face" by Siouxsie & the Banshees

Comments

[Employment Finder]

I find that people tend to go littel broad on these social networking platform because they think that mignt not be cauthgt with their activite on them