How to Use Social Media and Sharepoint to Drive Employee Engagement and Productivity

Social media can help employees connect on an informal level.

Communication is crucial for a streamlined organization. Using tools that increase the amount of discussion between employees and departments can help your staff feel engaged and boost productivity. Both social media sites and Microsoft SharePoint allow your staff to connect online, building community and increasing trust. To ensure that the tools do not become a distraction or a burden, work them into your existing company structure.

Instructions

1. Hold an introductory meeting to kick off the project. Explain how to use SharePoint and how to sign up for an account on the social media sites of your choice. Communicate to the staff your expectations so there is no confusion. To increase buy-in and take advantage of your staff's insight, ask for feedback on how to best to use SharePoint and social media and work it into the plan.

2. Incorporate SharePoint and social media into your regular workflow. Use them to increase communication among employees and between departments. Start a blog on SharePoint for each new project and ask staff members to update it at the end of each day or when they complete a major milestone. Create a private social media group or feed so staff can ask questions and get quick answers. The ease of connecting online can keep everyone informed, reduce the confusion that can slow productivity, and make all employees feel like a part of the process.

3. Encourage informal discussion on both social media and SharePoint. Allow your employees to ask questions and post comments on the SharePoint community forum and on your social media pages. Participate in the discussions so your staff feels connected to you on a more informal level. By making them feel like part of an active community, you can increase engagement and build trust.

4. Ask your staff to update their profile pages and activity feeds throughout the day. Encourage them to give details about the programs they are using, problems they encounter or thoughts they have about events. A regularly updated feed can help staff members get a better idea of everyone's job responsibilities and give them the opportunity to provide helpful feedback.

5. Require that managers participate in the social media and SharePoint discussions. Have them post questions about projects and company policies to invite feedback from employees. Ask managers to review and update SharePoint milestones and contribute to forum conversations. By including all levels of management, you can build trust.

References

• Microsoft SharePoint: Features
• The Social Workplace: Social Knows: Employee Engagement Statistics