A post from Chris Brogan brought up an interesting point about social media:
“We’re building a cluster of solo players out there on the field when what is necessary is a team methodology with all kinds of touchpoints, system connectors, and deeper communications/strategy channels… many hands in the social media huddle, is the better way to play.”
I couldn’t agree more and would like to suggest this springs from the misguided focus on the tools vs the challenge those tools might address. I heard an interesting presentation while visiting San Francisco a few weeks back by form Justin Dumont of 5Star Development Inc. He shared research he has done on companies integrating social media tools into their organizational learning and knowledge transfer. His conclusion was that if you can focus on the business challenge and find the technology that addresses that challenge, the rate of adoption will be much greater that if you try to retrofit. This makes sense doesn’t it? If you think about the sports analogy Chris made, all these teams have a challenge, beat the other team, that pulls them together. If we can create that same energy in our organizations, we are more likely to see the power of “many hands” approach Chris alludes to. Now, take the next logical step to the implications this has for leaders when using social media tools. If a leader can be clear about the “win”, then the “many hands” of the organization can work together to create a systems approach. The power of virtual system can be channeled and it’s full potential brought to bare. Clarity around the challenge comes first, then find and use the tools that will help people meet that challenge.
{ 0 comments… add one now }