Inspiration Conversation

As businesses continue to get more comfortable with their employees actively building and engaging their network through Social Media (although there are some exceptions), there's an opportunity to use these sites to recognize and motivate employees.

Here are three ideas to help you get started.

[But remember, as our friend Peter has mentioned as well, technology only enables recognition ... never let any of your tools replace the human touch.] 

1.  Create a video compilation of your event and post it on YouTube.
   
   Zappos recently celebrated their 10 year anniversary and some other big news with what looks to be a pretty serious party in Vegas. Not only did they post it on YouTube, their CEO tweeted about it as well.  
   
   To take it one step further, you could lend out digital cameras at the beginning of the event. Collect them afterward and compile the video using footage shot by the employees and attendees.  
   
   
2.  Create a Twitter profile for your RRS and encourage participants to follow.
   
   You could have a lot of fun with this and give your program its own "voice", or grant posting access to all the members of your recognition team to share announcements, gather nominations, and address employee concerns.
   
   If you went with the team approach, it could be designed to be similar to Best Buy's @twelpforce customer service (customers send their message to @ProgramName, and anyone on the team jumps in to help).
   
    
3.  Create a Facebook Fan Page for your RRS.
   
   Just as the participants who follow your program on Twitter will receive announcements and have another venue for interaction, Facebook members who become a fan of the program will see updates and photos in their News Feed.
   
   The Fan Page's Wall could also serve as a venue for Peer-to-Peer recognition. Like I mentioned off the top, ideally this would serve as a place to reaffirm a congratulatory note or pat-on-the-back already delivered in person, i.e. "Just wanted to acknowledge Jim's commitment to teamwork once again. Thanks for your enormous contribution to the Bridges 2010 project, Jim!" Not, "Hey Jim, thanks." on Facebook without an actual word ever being spoken in the office.

That's got the trifecta of Social Networking sites covered (with apologies to MySpace which is still statistically popular, but is being shown the door).

Explore the additional features within each of these sites and you'll no doubt discover ways to add even more character and interaction to your program (quizzes on Facebook, ReTweeting recognition notes, etc.). Have other ideas? Share them with us @TheMillerCo.