July 24, 2012
When you hear the term 'social enterprise', you could be forgiven for thinking we're talking about businesses doing good or giving back in a philanthropic sense. Indeed, this is a term that's grown, particularly in the UK, in recent years.
But increasingly, the phrase 'social enterprise' has another meaning: it represents the way organizations are becoming increasingly social and collaborative in how they operate internally, but also in terms of the way employees engage with clients and customers externally. With consumers spending an increasing amount of time online and communicating through social networks, and the rise of cloud computing enabling new modes of working, it's only natural that businesses should follow suit. Now though, some are beginning to evolve sophisticated techniques to enthuse staff to market, service and sell to a more social audience.
#GoingSocial
Turning a business into a socially collaborative organization has a real, tangible and long-term impact on revenues, lead generation and customer relationship management—but crucially, it also affects the day to day experience of the workplace and employees' development and career opportunities. Regardless of the tools you're using, a social enterprise is centered around breaking down silos and breaking down the barriers that prevent knowledge sharing and freedom of expression. It's about ripping up the org chart and opening up the playing field. With the right processes in place, staff can collaborate across departments and across physical locations. This not only improves autonomy in the workforce, it also provides a measurable return back into the business. It's about giving employees a megaphone and getting them engaged in the heart of the business and with customers. The obvious result of satisfied customers is repeat business.
