Over the last several years, LinkedIn has become the Holy Grail for generating leads for fintechs. As such, many organizations are asking and even requiring employees to participate or “like” company updates. While this may seem like a quick way to increase visibility among prospective clients, it can also lead to a lot of backlash among staff.
You may be thinking to yourself, “well, we don’t make our staff participate; we should ask them to support us.” In reality, what’s the difference? Even if you encourage it, it could be deemed as a mandate – employees will question the consequences of not participating.
That said, it’s important to point out that not all social media encouragement is bad. For instance, encouraging individuals to post with their favorite swag in exchange for donations to a certain charity or to support an important cause may support positive company culture. But asking for participation just to increase brand awareness isn’t wise.
Instead, organizations should strive for organic participation. This requires focusing on building a stellar company culture; not mandating participation to give the perception of one.
Here are some of the negative effects to consider:
1. Authenticity and Credibility
One of the most significant drawbacks of mandating social media promotion is the potential loss of authenticity. When employees are coerced into sharing company content, their posts may come across as insincere or disingenuous to their followers. Authenticity is crucial in building trust with an audience, and when employees are seen as mere mouthpieces for the company, it can erode their credibility and diminish the impact of their messages.
2. Employee Morale and Engagement
Forcing employees to promote the company on social media can have a detrimental effect on morale and engagement. Employees may feel resentful or pressured to participate, leading to increased stress and dissatisfaction in the workplace. Furthermore, employees who are not comfortable with using social media or who prefer to keep their personal and professional lives separate may feel alienated or marginalized by such mandates.
3. Risk of Backlash
In today’s highly connected and socially conscious world, any misstep on social media can quickly spiral into a public relations nightmare. Mandating employees to promote the company on social media increases the risk of backlash if the content shared is perceived as tone-deaf, insensitive, or inauthentic. Employees may inadvertently damage the company’s reputation or attract negative attention, leading to potential repercussions for both the individual and the organization as a whole.
4. Legal and Ethical Concerns
Mandating social media promotion raises significant legal and ethical concerns, particularly regarding employee privacy and freedom of expression. Employees may feel pressured to share content that they are not comfortable with or that goes against their personal beliefs or values. This can lead to potential legal issues and conflicts between employers and employees, undermining trust and creating a toxic work environment.
5. Decline in Social Media Engagement
Lastly, forcing employees to promote the company on social media can actually have the opposite effect of what was intended. Instead of increasing engagement and driving brand awareness, it may lead to a decline in social media performance. Followers may become disenchanted with the flood of promotional content, leading to decreased engagement, unfollows, or even negative feedback.
While employee advocacy can be a powerful tool for amplifying brand messaging and fostering a positive company culture, mandating social media promotion is fraught with risks and potential pitfalls. Rather than relying on coercion, companies should focus on cultivating a supportive and inclusive environment where employees are encouraged to authentically engage with the brand on their own terms. By fostering a culture of trust, respect and empowerment, companies can harness the genuine enthusiasm and passion of their employees to drive meaningful impact and achieve long-term success.