Feature
Launching an Enterprise Social Networking Tool (ESN) can be daunting. But if you invite the right people to the initial launch, it can make a difference in the adoption and success of your ESN across your organization. There are a few types of people you'll want to invite as they all play important, but different roles in the organization. And if you want to get them really involved? Play to the WIIFM mentality: if people know what’s in it for them, they are more likely to get involved.
1. The Expert
Your "go to" person for information. This person knows it all and usually has a brain full of information that is valuable to many in an organization. She's the first to find a workaround and is willing to experiment with technology and cutting edge tools.
Why important: This person will be able to post content and answer questions in your community with ease. You need to get the content in her head into your ESN. You may want to invite a few experts to make sure all your bases are covered so when someone asks a question, you have someone on hand with the expertise to answer.
What's In It For Me?: This person will be honored just to be invited.Usually takes little motivation, just tell her you need her because she is an expert in her field -- everyone loves to be called an expert.
2. The Executive
This is either the leader of your organization or department and a key decision maker. This person has limited time and is used to doing things with efficiency.
Why important: It is critical to get this person onboard early -- it's important for feedback and buy-in. The Executive also has followers that will stand up and take notice.
What's In It For Me?: Highlight the fact that you can be more efficient, speedier and more productive. Studies show that by implementing a social collaboration tool, organizations can see a 12.5 percent increase in productivity across the board. On top of this benefit, nearly 100 percent of companies using a social collaboration tool have reported the ability to more efficiently serve their clients.
3. The Resister
Hates change. The worst thing you can do to this person is give him ANOTHER login/application to learn to use. He would prefer to do things the way they have always being doing things ... a.k.a. the old way.
Why important: Win him over and you will see the rest of the resistance follow.Be sure and invite the leader of the resisters. “Resistance is futile.”
What's In It For Me?: Show him what is in it for him! Does he loathe answering the same question over and over again on email? Encourage him to answer the questions once in the ESN and then move on to complain about something else (kidding ...).
4. The Rallier
This is the person that organizes the happy hour, gets the office bowling team together and makes sure that their team spirit shows. This person is screaming the loudest.
Why important: This person will do the same for your ESN. She has a knack for creative ideas and is an uber-collaborator. Her skill set requires that she works with cross functional teams.
What's In It For Me?: An invitation will suffice. The Rallier will rise to the occasion, start on her mission to energize/influence the community and recruit others to follow suit.
5. The Social Butterfly
This is the person that has every social network button in their email signature. He's able to multitask across all social platforms and is not afraid to share.
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Why important: This person will be an early adopter and will be the one who shares, posts, hi-fives, comments and recommends freely.
What's In It For Me?: His invitation will read -- Enterprise Social Network -- we need your help! Then stand back and watch him do his thing.
6. The Invisible Worker
They are there, you just can’t see them. They are the secret ops of your organization. They are the first to look at an email/post, Twitter feed or file and will always know what is happening in every corner of the workspace.
Why important: They are constantly consuming information and will continue to look at the information you are sharing in your ESN.
What's In It For Me?: Usually an invitation that includes a contest for the first to answer, first to login or first to view material will do the trick. Rewarding this type of behavior is a good thing, as they are consuming the information necessary to do their job.
7. The Taskmaster
Bonus if you have this person on your initial soft launch team.Maybe this is even you!Organized to the point of being obsessive, this person will have a project plan, launch timeline and a checklist so they can delegate tasks.
Why important: This person is the perfect administrator of a community. Action items will be accomplished with speed and efficiency. This detail oriented person will be able to run reports and improve the operational functions of your community.
What's In It For Me?: Give this person Admin capabilities in your community and watch how they collaborate to get the project plan done. Rewarding this person for their capabilities in front of others would be a nice touch.
P.S. If this isn’t you, plan on tasks to be assigned to you shortly!
Title image by Dan Hodgett (Flickr) via a CC BY 2.0 license
