All There is To Know About Special Interest Groups

Incorporating the personal interests of employees in the workplace has become a growing trend in recent years. This strategy fosters innovation and promotes entrepreneurial spirit while also giving team members a sense of community and belonging. Companies frequently hold an open meeting to get this process started by learning about the individual passions and interests of each employee. Employees can express their interests and discover common ground with their coworkers during this meeting. These pursuits may include pastimes, activities, the arts, sports, or anything else that inspires personnel. Companies may foster a more inclusive and supportive work atmosphere by promoting this kind of sharing. One way that companies can incorporate personal interests is through the creation of special interest groups.

What Are Special Interest Groups?

These are made up of coworkers who enjoy the same things. For instance, staff members who enjoy cycling can start a group, while those who adore photography can start a group. These groups give workers a chance to interact and engage with their coworkers in a more casual setting. Employees can use them as a platform to cooperate on initiatives that are connected to their interests, share knowledge, and develop new skills.

Given the needs of the business, special interest groups may serve a variety of purposes. For instance, some businesses make use of these organizations to improve morale and foster a happier workplace. Others might make advantage of them to promote employee well-being by organizing teams for sports or hiking or yoga. By allowing staff members the freedom to experiment and work on side projects, certain special interest groups are also used to promote innovation and entrepreneurship.

To give you a glimpse of how you can get started with special groups, below are some strategies you can try.

Diving Into Special Interest Groups: Strategies To Try

This allows employees to dedicate 80% of their time to work and 20% to a side project. This unconventional methodology has cemented Google’s status as one of the most innovative corporations worldwide. Major entities such as Gmail, Google Maps, Twitter, Slack, and Groupon all originated from side projects.

Hackathons are a prevalent initiative during company retreats. This activity involves dividing the workforce into four groups, granting them a week to conceptualize, develop and showcase their idea. This practice cultivates a sense of camaraderie and creativity amongst team members, often resulting in new products or systems.

While side projects boost employee morale, SMBs may find it difficult to incorporate them into the workplace realistically. Therefore, a more feasible objective is to initiate an open pitch and establish an Employee Resource Group.

Facebook CEO and author Sheryl Sandberg’s “Lean In” circles offer a safe haven for women to connect and discuss significant workplace issues like gender bias and other barriers. Circles of any size can convene, which additionally fosters women’s leadership skills and promotes their participation in Lean In’s global network of over 50,000 circles in 184 countries.

The Everis Foundation provides a platform for employees to explore initiatives without departing the company. Their website explicitly states that their staff is their most valuable asset. Everis values its employees’ passions and outside interests, recognizing their success is inextricably linked to its employees’ well-being.

Striving for Success? Focus on Your Employees.

Companies aiming to promote community, promote entrepreneurship, and create a healthy workplace environment might benefit greatly from using special interest groups. Employers may build a more engaged and contented staff by taking into account their personal interests, which can result in higher productivity and success. We suggest looking into your special interest groups as soon as you can to make the most out of this strategy.