Networking groups make employees, customers happy
February 23rd, 2005An interesting article from HeraldToday.com:
“Many groups started ‘when the diversity movement was kind of a hot topic in the mid- to late-’90s,’ said Todd Campbell, diversity manager for the Society for Human Resource Management, a trade group in Alexandria, Va.
Such groups often evolve from informal employee social networks, Campbell said. They become formalized as companies realize their value in providing a support network for employees with similar backgrounds and interests and in boosting the bottom line.
Networking groups - whether representing black, Hispanic, disabled, gay, female, elderly or other groups of employees - can ‘help a company connect with a more diverse customer base,’ Campbell said. Network members help recruit and retain employees, and they provide access to and knowledge about important marketing segments.”
Social networks are indeed a hot topic these days. One aspect of social networks that intrigues me is the expertise factor, which I’ve written about before. If librarians become part of a social network within their library and, even more helpful, their community, they will know more about “who knows what”. Reference librarians make referrals all of the time, to non-profit, civic organizations, educational facilities, and more. It’s more than just looking in a book or searching the web for the answer. It’s about knowing who can be helpful to the patron on his or her particular issue. Treat a patron like you would treat a member of your extended family, or an close friend. Find out “who knows what” in your buildings, in your community, in your county, and in your state.
Everyone out there is an expert at something.
Sidenote: check out the bottom of the article, where it says, “(EDITORS: STORY CAN END HERE)”, and the article doesn’t end. Ooops. I think editors need their own editors sometimes.