Ten Ways Executives Can Support Their Company's Intranet

The company intranet is essential for organizations to streamline communication, share information, and improve employee collaboration. However, the success of an intranet depends heavily on the support and participation of everyone within the organization. 

Executives can play a crucial role in the intranet's success by promoting its importance, providing resources for content creation, leading by example, and allocating resources to maintain and improve the intranet. In this article, we will explore ten ways executives can support their company intranet and ensure that it is an effective tool for achieving organizational goals.

Executives can use a company intranet to encourage employee collaboration and knowledge sharing. This could include setting up forums or chat rooms where employees can discuss ideas, ask questions, and share best practices. This not only helps to foster a sense of community within the organization but also helps to improve overall productivity and innovation.

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Here are ten ways executives can drive the adoption of their company’s intranet:

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1. Demonstrate the importance of the intranet: Executives should communicate to employees why the intranet is important and how it can benefit the company. This can be done through company-wide announcements, email, or even in-person meetings.

Another way to accomplish this is to use it like an employee - post something to show you're engaged...an important trip you're taking or a debrief from an office or client you visited. "Working out loud" shows the staff how you're working and what important work you have been up to. 

Even simply "liking" something to show you read it will help employees feel seen and valued. Make sure your profile is fully filled out. Set an example.

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2. Provide resources for content creation: The intranet is only as useful as its content. Executives can support their intranet by providing resources for employees to create and publish content, such as templates, guidelines, or training sessions.

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3. Lead by example: Executives should lead by example and use the intranet themselves. This can include posting updates, sharing documents, and commenting on content. When employees see their executives using the intranet, they're more likely to do so.

For example, introduce yourself. Write a post about who you're, what you do, and your background. Include a few personal interests as you feel comfortable. Humanizing yourself will go a long way to winning the hearts and minds you need.  

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4. Encourage participation: Executives can encourage participation by setting up contests or incentives for employees who contribute the most content or use the intranet. This can help create a culture of engagement and collaboration around the intranet.

Here’s an idea: "Let's continue the conversation in the community" At the bottom of many corporate memos and announcements is a generic email that communications typically monitor for questions. Instead, have the executive who wrote the memo provide a link to an area of the community dedicated to her department or possibly even this topic area. Encourage real employees to seed some initial questions to show others it is ok to have a robust conversation around the topic. ‍

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5. Allocate resources: Executives should allocate resources to maintain and improve the intranet. This includes funding for software updates, user support, and content creation. Allocating resources to the intranet signals that it is a priority for the company.‍

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6. Monitor usage: Executives should monitor intranet usage to ensure it meets employees' needs. This can be done through analytics or surveys. If employees are not using the intranet, it may be time to reassess its design or functionality.‍

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7. Solicit feedback: Executives should solicit employee feedback about the intranet. This can be done through surveys or focus groups. By listening to employee feedback, executives can make informed decisions about how to improve the intranet.

For example, various executives can host an "Ask Me Anything" or live chats in your community at various times to get employee's questions asked and answered. This Q&A will be seen by all employees and will be discoverable in the future for those that missed it. 

As with the above, be sure to do some seed/plant work to get a few questions queued up to get the ball rolling. The executive does not have to sit in their office alone during the chats but instead have a team around them to help brainstorm answers or do quick research if needed. Not all questions need to be addressed in real-time. After the allotted time, other team members from the executive department can answer them over the coming days. ‍

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8. Integrate with other systems: Executives can support the intranet by integrating it with other systems used by the company, such as HR software or project management tools. Integrating systems can streamline processes and make it easier for employees to access the necessary information.‍

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9. Provide training: Executives can provide training to employees on how to use the intranet effectively. This can include training on content creation, search functionality, and collaboration tools. Providing training can help ensure that employees are getting the most out of the intranet.‍

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10. Celebrate successes: Finally, executives should celebrate employee successes. This can include highlighting successful content, and recognizing employees who contribute the most or those who meet or exceed their goals. Celebrating successes can create momentum and build excitement around the intranet.

Many companies have recognition and appreciation programs already in place. How can you use your community to support these programs? How about a  "Thank you" group where employees can recognize one another when they help each other out.

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In conclusion, a company intranet is a powerful tool that can improve communication, collaboration, and engagement within an organization. By leveraging the various features of an intranet, executives can lead the way to a positive work culture and promote employee growth and development, ultimately leading to greater business success.

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