Fireside IO is an app where organizations can quickly create their own anonymous forums and invite their members. Members of the forum can then create topics and responses, and vote on each other's responses anonymously.
I created it because I see a lot of barriers to communication in organizations, and have run into situations myself where I don't feel like I can speak my mind without repercussions, even if the idea is a good one.
I wanted to create a space where there's parity through anonymity. There aren't a lot of forums in the "anonymity space", and there aren't a lot of forums in the B2B space. The hypothesis is that hopefully these key features will allow organizations to communicate better within and between teams and at different levels.
If you can't speak about a good idea without repercussions, what are the odds your employer has/trusts/pays for an app for the purpose of anonymous expression? This seems opposed to the type of employer who'd create this type of stifling work environment to begin with.
Can you help me connect the A-to-B here, perhaps maybe offer some real world testimonials how this works? As a disgruntled or 'unheard' member of the corp, do I pay for this myself, or do I ask my manager to buy this and provide me a license anonymously?
That’s a good point! Maybe “repercussion” was the wrong wording. There are a lot of reasons an employee wouldn’t share their idea. On one end, there are explicit repercussions (like their employer firing them), which you’re right, that employer isn’t going to be the one that wants this software.
On the other end, there are internal reasons it’s hard to share feedback (I don’t want people to think my idea is stupid. I don’t think my manager will listen to me because I’m so young. Etc…).
A good manager knows that no matter how safe of an environment is created, there’s always going to be these things running through people’s heads that keep them from speaking their mind, regardless of if they’re actually true or not. So this software is really meant for managers and leaders that already value feedback and just want another way to foster more honest feedback in their organization. It’s another tool in the tool belt, not a replacement for good company culture.
I created it because I see a lot of barriers to communication in organizations, and have run into situations myself where I don't feel like I can speak my mind without repercussions, even if the idea is a good one.
I wanted to create a space where there's parity through anonymity. There aren't a lot of forums in the "anonymity space", and there aren't a lot of forums in the B2B space. The hypothesis is that hopefully these key features will allow organizations to communicate better within and between teams and at different levels.