Employees are influencers: What HR should do about it

We all know what an influencer is. 

You’ve heard or seen the term on social media.

An influencer has a large or highly engaged social media following and holds considerable sway in industries. Known for their authenticity and innovative approaches, they use their knowledge and authority to influence others. 

The key here is influence. They have an ability to influence others and around them because of their authority. 

But have you thought of an employee as an influencer? 

Well, you really should. Because they already are one. You probably know who they are right now. The employee that just popped into your head. And recognising their impact could transform your workplace culture.

They’re the type of employees who guide colleagues, shape their opinions and have a significant impact on culture, decisions and business outcomes. They are highly regarded and respected and others turn to them for advice and guidance.

And it’s really important HR takes hold of this and uses employee influencers to their advantage. Because you can lean on different types of influencers to get things done. Move culture. Make change. Connect people, and act as a conduit for you, without even knowing it!

In this blog, we’ll go over why you need influencers, how to spot them, and what to do about harnessing employee influencers. 

Why do you need them? 

Employee influencers can do a range of different things for you. Depending on what’s going on in your organisation you might want to lead on different influencers to do different things. 

For example, they can share and facilitate the dissemination of valuable knowledge, know-how and best practices across the organisation. Or they could help you shape culture by embodying and promoting the organisation's values up front, encouraging positive behaviour and walking the walk so other employees follow suit. 

Many organisations are going through times of change at the moment. Whether it be AI integration or changes to flexible WFH policies, influencers can guide and facilitate the transition by influencing others to adopt the new strategies and initiatives.

Or sometimes you just need employees to help boost general engagement and morale. We’re not talking about personality hires, but the right kind of employee can ensure their positive influence improves overall employee engagement and morale.

Who they are

Influencers come in different shapes and sizes. 

To know what you’re missing in your organisation, you need to know what you’re looking for. Employee influencers can be roughly categorised as:

• Energiser—they radiate enthusiasm and positivity, lift colleagues and inspire.
• De-energiser—they spread negativity and scepticism and hinder teamwork and productivity.
• Mayor—they seem to know everyone and act as a hub of information exchange.
• Connector—they bridge gaps between departments, teams and individuals.

The best way to find influencers is first through social analysis. 

Take a look at different employees at work, notice communication patterns and see if you can pinpoint the type of influencer you need in your organisation. If that still doesn’t help you find the type of employee influencer you’re after, the next best option is to conduct employee surveys to see who employees turn to for advice, whose opinions they value, and who positively or negatively impacts their work experience.

What next?

Maybe you’ve always understood the value of employees influencing your organisation, but never thought of it in terms of being an influencer. Now that the term is out there, organisations should take some time to think about how they can help employees be better influencers for the company. 

Because their influence can live outside the four walls of your organisation. 98 per cent of employees use at least one social media site for personal use, and over half of these employees post and share information about your organisation. 

So while influencers can have a positive impact on your organisation's digital and social reputation, it can also positively impact them too. When they become influencers, it improves their networks which boosts learning that can add value to their current and future work.

This is why it’s really important to teach employees how to use social media safely. Technology is very much a part of our personal and professional lives. You want your influencers to embrace technology and use it safely. Offering training sessions on how to use technology responsibly helps the employee and the company. Employees can use their knowledge to share information about the company’s brand, products, and job opportunities. 

A great benefit of having an employee influencer is also referrals. They’re great because the candidate comes in hot and vetted, but no one is going to refer their friend, colleague, or family member to work with them if your organisation is terrible. So if your organisation isn’t seeing referrals, you might want to find out why. The answer could be that your influencers aren’t willing to promote the company.

Don’t get me wrong. Encouraging employees to be organisational influencers doesn’t entirely replace your people policy, marketing efforts, or recruiting efforts. But it can have a positive impact.

You can’t force anyone to be an influencer for your organisation, but you can make it a part of the culture, provide leadership and training, and make it easy for employees to get involved without making it sound like a chore. 

By understanding what drives genuine work relationships, HR can craft strategies that boost morale, engagement, and overall productivity. Embrace the power of in-house influencers and watch your organisation’s culture transform for the better.

About Us

Martian Logic has been empowering HR teams for years with simple, scalable solutions that let organisations thrive. Our intuitive HRIS streamlines every aspect of HR—from recruitment and onboarding to performance tracking and employee engagement. With robust analytics and comprehensive employee surveys, our platform provides the insights you need to understand what your people truly value. Whether you're fine-tuning your hiring strategies or rethinking employee engagement, Martian Logic helps you build a culture where every team member feels connected and empowered.