Unleashing your workforce's potential: The power of user-generated content

As HR professionals, we're constantly seeking ways to empower employees, optimize internal resources and drive organizational growth. User-generated content (UGC) offers a transformative approach, leveraging the collective knowledge and skills of your workforce to unlock a multitude of benefits, regardless of industry, geography or the maturity of your organization.

UGC fosters the sharing of historical and tacit knowledge, ensuring valuable insights aren't lost with employee turnover. New hires can benefit from readily available resources, accelerating their upskilling journey. A study by the American Productivity & Quality Center (APQC) found that organizations with strong knowledge-sharing practices saw a 33% increase in employee productivity.

The identification of subject matter experts (SMEs) through UGC participation reveals hidden talent. These individuals can then be nurtured through mentorship, sponsorship programs, and improved leadership development initiatives. Research by Gartner highlights the importance of identifying high-potential employees and providing them with targeted development opportunities.

By harnessing employee-generated content on skills and expertise, organizations can transition to a Skill-Based Organization (SBO). This data fuels strategic workforce planning, enabling proactive talent acquisition and the creation of internal gig opportunities. A report by the World Economic Forum emphasizes the importance of transitioning to a skill-based workforce to remain competitive in the future. Additionally, research by Bersin by Deloitte highlights the value of using skills data to inform talent management decisions.

UGC cultivates a culture of knowledge sharing, leading to faster decision-making and increased agility. This translates to quicker product launches and improved speed to market. A study by McKinsey & Company found that agile organizations are up to 20% more productive than traditional ones.

Studies like Novartis (3x engagement, 8x completions) showcase the power of UGC in boosting employee engagement and fostering a sense of belonging. Research by Kenexa High Performance Institute highlights the link between employee engagement and a sense of belonging. In turn, this drives productivity, retention, and a positive ROI. A study by Gallup found that highly engaged employees are 21% more productive than their less engaged colleagues.

UGC empowers employees to become teachers and content creators, transforming your L&D function from an administrative one to a learning and teaching organization. This reduces silos, fosters innovation, and allows your L&D professionals to focus on strategic initiatives. A study by Bersin by Deloitte found that HR professionals spend a significant amount of time on administrative tasks, hindering their ability to focus on strategic initiatives. Research by the Brandon Hall Group highlights the need for L&D professionals to shift their focus from content creation to learning experience.

Unleash your workforce's agility with UGC. Traditional learning methods can struggle to keep pace with change. UGC fosters a culture of continuous learning and knowledge sharing. By readily accessing expertise and best practices from their peers, employees can adapt to new situations, solve problems faster, and navigate change with greater ease.

Start by identifying low-hanging fruit — encourage employee knowledge sharing within your learning solutions. Empower subject matter experts to contribute content, and watch your teams become more responsive and adaptable to change.

Not sure how to get started? Cornerstone has solutions and resources that can help. Book a demo.