5 Social Business Recommendations

Corporations are mired down in all things digital transformation. Uncertainty and doubt rule the day with lots of fear-based consulting speak about the unforeseen consequence of inaction. In an effort to bubble up from the ground level, “sky is falling” mentality that permeates today’s environment, below are five recommendations to influence a positive outlook and advancement of your organization.

1. Adopt a social business culture. Leadership needs to embrace social business and openly share their successes and challenges along the journey. This will catalyze momentum and result in other employees taking part. Rather than focus on policies and guidelines – although needed – establish a culture that embraces trial and error and allows for sharing. Friendly competition is a common result of open and transparent communication around social business as employees feel empowered.

2. Make social business frictionless. Consider the experience of your employees when getting started with social business and remove barriers. Examples might be the employment of technologies to facilitate the sharing of experiences to encourage others and enable access to videos, images, infographics and quotes that can be used in blog content without concern for sourcing.

3. Reward success. Incentives drive behavior. Rather than the typical pay or position incentives, amplify your employees’ brands through corporate social channels and make leaders stars. For exceptional contributors, consider investment that provides for paid placement of content to help tell the corporate story and boost the employee’s personal brand. Tie incentives to customer success by expanding reward programs outside the organization. Relationships will deepen and communications improve as your ecosystem of social business and digital success grows.

4. Establish a content and social business strategy. For your organization, employees and partners, develop and employ a strategy. Action without a sound plan can go astray. Ground your plan in ownership, accountability, metrics and flexibility to make changes along the way. Being “agile” in social business is important as best practices and platforms evolve.

5. Find enjoyment in the social business journey. The pace and nature of change is now a constant and many firms have yet to find a steady state and cadence for execution. Leadership by example and a positive outlook about the current business environment will go a long way. Attitude is half the battle.

Appreciate your stories of what has been successful in your organization and additional thoughts in the comments below.

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