The beginning of a new year is usually a time for reflection, as well as a time to look for creating positive change in ourselves and our professional careers. With a high sense of optimism we set our goals, determined we will meet them successfully. This is good – as we are enhancing ourselves – understanding that we can be better, we can do better and more importantly that we look to be challenged and to grow by learning to overcome obstacles and fears. It may be hard work, but in the end it’s extremely rewarding.
I know that some of my 2014 goals are to lay-off chocolate (OK, that may be an unattainable goal, good thing I have a few), to work better with my team, provide more value in what I do and to learn from knowledge experts both inside and outside of my organization in topics that are of interest to me, so that I can both be challenged and enriched in many different areas of my life.
One thing my company understands is mobility and I mean that in the most decentralized manner. Many of us work remotely but we all have easy access to each other if it’s by phone, email or online meetings, we are always connected. However, maybe the most important place we connect is in our digital workspace.
The reason our digital work-space is the most preferred place for me to connect is that I am able to find personalized information and content that is directed to my team space. I can communicate in real-time with co-workers that I need to communicate with. I can find those outside of my team space that may have valuable information to share and not only can I locate the information easily, I can have it in different forms. This allows me to get my work done quicker and more accurately, which in turn helps the team to reach our goals more efficiently.
So how does your organization achieve digital work-space greatness? Well, for starters you need to consider the following:
What information employees are going to access?
How are they going to access information?
Where they need to find content?
Who they need to communicate with?
What they are going to do with the information once they locate it?
Key Components of a Great Social Digital Workspace
Be sure to think mobile — Today’s employees are working and communicating using a multitude of digital devices. They should be able to use the corporate intranet across any one of their devices no matter if it’s a Smartphone, tablet or laptop. You need to enable your employees to have access to information; contacts, project status changes and the ability make updates from anywhere, at any time from any device.
Offer social features — Employees spend time in social channels such as LinkedIn, Facebook, Twitter, etc. and by offering a social intranet you’re giving employees with tools they are already comfortable with and like to use. A collaborative work-space can enrich your employees’ experience. Co-workers can develop areas of interest, foster innovation and exchange knowledge. Plus, social tools allow for teams to follow and share team members without bombarding their email -less noise, who doesn’t like that!
It’s about ME: So personalize it — don’t contribute to information overload. Give employees the right information, at the time they need, it in the space they work in. Building profiles allows the platform to better understand what is relevant to the employee and personalizes their work-space so that the employee decides what areas and information are important for them to get their work done.
I hope you have taken the time to reflect on how your digital work-space is working for you and your employees and what you can do in 2014 to achieve social digital work-space greatness.
Wishing you a healthy and prosperous New Year!