About this series…

Defining the requirements for an intranet manager position can be tough! With so many roles and responsibilities needed to make an intranet truly successful – one that truly resonates with staff members -  where do you begin?

Through a series of posts, I’ll explain the importance and relevancy of a few of the most important positions this person most likely serve. As you read, please remember: An intranet manager’s roles will vary, of course, based on the needs of the organization. This is by no means an exhaustive list.

And, as always, please feel free to share your thoughts by leaving a comment below.

#1: The Cheerleader

Just because a system is built, doesn’t mean people are going to use it. Most likely, they won’t even see the value in it until you show them what it can do and how it can make their lives better. Otherwise, it’s simply adding yet another process on top of the many things people already have to do every day. (Right?)

In an internal organization, the cheerleader, or champion, is single-handedly the most important role an intranet manager can play. It is this person’s energy, passion, and vision that will help keep an intranet alive, sparking interest in the “bright spots*” within the organization – the people who “get” it. (And believe me, they’re few and far between – embrace their interest!)

These “bright spots” are also cheerleaders, handpicked to help inspire people around them – typically their department or sector. Just like a cheerleading squad, bright spots follow behind the project champion so everyone stays in line and knows what to do, when. Cheerleaders keep the audience motivated and the spirit in the air.

Thus, internally, igniting interest and enthusiasm within the company to use the intranet to do what it’s meant to do: Connect the culture, encourage staff members to share knowledge, and make it easy to find information faster.

Imagine a football game with no cheerleaders on the sidelines… “C’mon, let’s go, team! Give me a  B…O…R…I…N…G!”    *\o/*  

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Share your thoughts!

• Do you agree or disagree? Why?
• What lessons have you learned?
• What are your suggestions for increasing user adoption?
• What related intranet challenges have you encountered or overcome?

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In this series:

• Application Expert
• Business Analyst
• Content Author, Editor & Curator (Communicator)
• Educator & Trainer
• Technical Support
• Web (UX) Designer & Developer

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For your reference:

*The term (“bright spots”) is taken from a book called Switch: How to Change Things When Change Is Hard by Chip and Dan Heath, authors of Made to Stick. … Switch is an enlightening read that offers anyone ideas for creating change within their company. I highly suggest checking it out.