We’re all digesting the first wave of social networking—what’s been labeled consumer social networking, which made a household name of MySpace, Facebook, LinkedIn. They’re the new killer applications on the web.

Consumer social networking is all about the end user—and having fun—socializing with family and colleagues in a very open environment, and with few rules. We’ve all used social networks to share personal photos, catch up with old college buddies or chat with a friend in another part of the world.

Born from this first social networking wave, the next natural evolution is the migration of the technology into a new category known as corporate social networking.

I believe corporate social networking is the next natural evolution of the current collaboration and knowledge management tools used in organizations today. Why? Because doing business is both a personal and social activity. Businesses don’t strike deals or perform transactions; people do. 

And from the knowledge workers that I talk to… they are demandingor already using the same easy to use, web 2.0 collaboration and publishing tools they use at home – at work.

To me, the key is to put the power of these new web 2.0 tools into in the hands of those who need it the most – employees. Let them choose the tools they think will help them do their jobs more effectively and efficiently. Who would know better?

Leading edge companies are already embracing these tools to connect employees, share knowledge and bring distributed teams, groups and organizations closer together to collaborate and share knowledge to achieve real business results.

It goes without saying these tools must adhere to corporate governance policies and practices set up by the organization and made available in a formalized, controlled and secure environment. Managers need to become enablers in this new world and not gatekeepers. It requires changes in existing business models and corporate culture… which is never easy… but well worth doing. Is your organization ready to take the plunge?

Next article… how corporate social networking can break down silos and free knowledge from email purgatory.