Bernaisesource

No question social media is a communications force to be reckoned with.  But just because management understands what a blog, wiki or podcast is, doesn't mean everyone should go out and start blogging.

Determining employee awareness is a critical first step in developing a communications strategy. Gauging mangement's tolerance for openness and decentralization is the next.  A social media strategy will fail without understanding employee awareness and the prevailing company culture.

So in the sprirt of share and share alike, I offer up the following survey:  Testing Your Company's Social Media Awareness.  It is a simple questionnaire to be given to colleagues and clients.  It is meant as a starting point for discussion and socialization.

Candidly, there is a built-in bias. It assumes that companies should embrace social media.  The challenge is determining the right path to get you there.  

The survey attempts to address such questions as:  Do Interent savvy and social media adoption synch up or is there a disconnect?  Do employees understand social media and how to use it?  What steps must be taken to implement a social media policy?

I recommend giving it to a wide range of people -- from the most savvy to the least experienced, new employees and old, management and rank and file to accurately gauge awareness. Only through understanding your company's or your client's level of awareness will you be able to develop a successful strategy for implementation. 

This knowledge is also critical in gauging tolerance for this new form of communication. If the answers reveal a very low awareness, you need to ask why.  Does the company culture encourage or discourage social media or is it simply that your employees lack the necessary knowledge? Or is it both?

For those that already embrace social media, the feedback may surprise you.  It will tell you how much education is needed to make the transition from the old way of communicating to the new.

I welcome your feedback. 

Let me get back you.