7 ways that Facebook Groups can increase staff productivity (Guest Blog)
Yup, that’s right... Facebook can increase staff productivity! How you ask? Recent research has show that getting your staff on Facebook, rather than blocking them from using it, can dramatically improve their efficiency and even their mental health.
So what’s a Facebook group? Facebook groups are pages that allow you (as admin) to add and remove members, share private content (only group members can see) and allows members to engage with each other publicly to the group but privately from Facebook as a whole.
How do they improve efficiency? Here’s how...
1) Reduce internal communication emails
Every company, large or small, suffers from an overdose of mass internal emails. It’s become common place for colleagues to email each other across desks rather than talking. Therefore, Facebook groups are perfect for reducing internal emails and replacing them with a continuous stream of information. Staff can use the group to message everyone quickly but without breaking colleagues’ concentration when they’re replying to customers via email. This is also a great tool for management as staff are less likely to send frivolousmessages when they know what they are posting is visible to their bosses.
2) Streamline information
As we get more and more comfortable ‘scrolling’ through information online, the human eye has become expert at seeing only information it needs/wants to. Consequently, staff will be able to scroll through their Facebook group and skim over irrelevant information and see only what they need to. All your internal communications can be posted in one place and read by those it is relevant to.
3) Host events and discussions
Groups allow you to quickly invite members (your staff) to your events. So, next time you’re planning a team meeting, create a Facebook event via your group and increase participation. Or, use the discussion function and allow members to feedback live and engage with each other to develop ideas.
4) Send documents
Want to know that everyone got your latest update? With groups it’s easy. Simply upload the document you wish to share and ask those who have downloaded it to ‘Like’ the post. Now you can see exactly who has engaged with your update and be able to encourage those who haven’t to get onboard!
5) Positive social networking makes employees happier
According to an infographic by Keas.com, allowing staff to positively share ideas via social networking can increase staff happiness. It makes sense really, we’re human and communicating with each other, using our minds and being part of a team make us feel good. Doing these things online is no different. It even goes as far as to say that seeing other people’s positive statuses can increase happiness three degrees down the line! Happy staff makes productive staff.
6) Extend when colleagues communicate with each other
Now I’m not advocating asking your employees to work outside of office hours. However, it’s a natural reaction for people to want to keep engaging with each other if they are enjoying themselves. If you can create a happy, positive group then your staff will likely want to communicate and engage outside of working hours. Surely that’s a good thing for your business?
7) Raising aspirations & glass ceilings
Last but not least, creating an online community amongst staff of all positions can significantly increase aspirations. If a junior staff member can see a senior member bonding, sharing, creating ideas with the team, it helps them feel connected to them and raises their own aspirations to grow within the organisation. In turn, allowing management to engage on a personal level with juniors reminds them of their own roots and career journey and allows them to support their staff in developing and achieving their goals.
The moral of the story is don’t ban employees from using Facebook, make them use it! Build a community that you are proud of, that supports its members and ultimately drives engagement and efficiency for your entire organisation.
Happy sharing,
Jo
Joanna Booth, Social Media Makes Sense 
Joanna is a Manchester born & bred girl with a hunger for entrepreneurship and a thirst to make things change for the better! She has two businesses under her belt; one a platform for students to gain valuable first-time work experiences, the other a social media training business; Social Media Makes Sense. She regularly writes blogs to help other business owners with practical ideas to implement or talks about general lessons she has learnt along the way! Follow her @JaegerBooth.
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