A number of responses to the Social Media Revolution have asked the question whether social media is a fad. In my opinion this is the wrong question, the right question is does social media help me connect with people better. Tools always change communication tools are certainly no exception. Relationships still depend upon how you feel when you interact with someone. Do they make you laugh, think, cry or does their impact fade once out of sight? I know it sounds corny but I still believe it is what is inside the person which speaks to us, hard to tell that in 140 characters, but over time with multiple interactions multiple channels be it text, audio, video, or perhaps even in real life you begin to tell those you wish to have some on-going connection with.
So with enthusiasm we welcome all the new tools, lots more to learn, lots more to get lost in and to discover, just include the off-line one too!
People have asked me why I am so passionate about Wiki’s and I answer because they are the start of the next revolution!
Throughout history what initially seemed a small innovation often lead to very big results. Making roads between villages helped the Romans build an empire. Gutenberg’s invention of the printing press along with the Chinese contribution of paper, less expensive than parchment, opened up the sharing of knowledge and ideas and by some historians estimates hastened the already advancing Renaissance. Being able to see far objects as though they were close through two polished lenses opened up man’s exploration of the heavens. The exciting aspect of invention is when it can move people or ideas over greater distances faster and with it, increase the exchange of ideas. Trade inevitably moves products but it also moves ideas, before you held an iPhone you never knew you needed one!
Manufacturing having worked through many issues over the years moved much faster once the overlaying systems of accounting, purchasing, and inventory all used the same database in MRP, MRP II, and finally ERP systems. The idea of one objective reality with everyone using their piece of it is present in many ideas and systems which are intended to accelerate coordination. It is also present in Eli Goldratt’s work of “The Goal” and Critical Chain, that any complex system must have very few or even one independent chain which when recognized and exploited is the best method for increasing productivity of the entire system.
The idea of collaboration using web 1.0 tools like email did increase the speed of communication but not to the level of a wiki. Not where one version of reality or objectives can be worked on both synchronously and asynchronously. One can only imagine in the not too distant future people collaborating on a virtual 3D version of a wiki. Perhaps even as I write this it’s already being done, but again the concept of everyone bringing something to write with in a supportive environment can lead to innovations that all of us will benefit from very soon!
All of these reasons make me even more passionate that we can find new ways to come together and solve real problems. No longer will we cower behind artificial separations that prevent open and honest communication – which Socrates told us over 2000 years ago, was the best place to find the truth!
Once employees are writing or recording blogs and summarizing articles on wiki pages; the summaries need to be reviewed and recommended for further development. This can be done by an information manager, the manger of each department, or potentially by the followers of a particular blog. This last method is more organic but relies upon the atmosphere of mutual respect. In fact summaries could be regulated by requiring a number of followers or subscriptions. This demonstration of thought leadership by associates should be publicly praised; not required of all but praised when true innovative ideas that can be put into action benefit the company.
Cataloging summaries and links to the blogs and wikis which develop them further can be performed by the group interacting with the thought leader or by management. Which method adopted depends upon the structure of your organization and other factors, but this also is accomplished faster using wikis so that one version of reality is in place, not multiple updated versions saved on individual hard drives not always connected to your network. Access to the corporate wiki can be secure but open enough that employees don’t hoard versions to themselves creating an incomplete or partial version. Policies and procedures should do everything to encourage work being done directly on networked wiki or blog, this also facilitates better collaboration for all team members since there is only one version of the work in progress.
Finally, as cataloged knowledge grows and thought leadership is defined these new skills can be entered into the formal talent management system by Human Resources. References on the participants who grew the knowledge and skills build pride throughout the organization as well as the individual. When attracting new talent to the company the recognition of Thought leadership is something usually reserved for academics and publications but in this company it’s a source of pride for every associate to develop and document existing processes and improvements as well as potential areas for business development.
I got a wake up call today! – Going for a walk today in the sleepy suburb where I live I started to really pay attention to everything around me. Not merely pay attention I mean REALLY notice every crack in the sidewalk, freshly cut grass, which birds were chirping, and which were answering. Walking along a nearby river I saw a family of geese with 6 goslings and an amazing feeling came over me, a feeling of joy that I had not experienced in quite a while.
When is the last time you experienced that, being totally in the moment? Throughout the rest of the walk I noticed some many more things around me and it reminded me about how many people are really going through tough times that we all forget to really notice the amazing things all around us. I am not preaching any spiritual message here; I appreciate and respect all religions and philosophies. I am referring to what we all have within our own grasp; the five wonderful senses almost all of us posses and take for granted most days of our lives. People who are missing one or more senses often don’t need as much as a reminder to experience with what they have left.
I have a habit that helps keeps me focused and positive. Asking myself three questions everyday, today I just added five more questions. I bet you already know them, but here they are anyway:
1. What was my favorite sight today?
2. What was my favorite sound today?
3. What was my favorite touch today?
4. What was my favorite taste today?
5. What was my favorite smell today?
6. What did I learn today?
7. What am I thankful for today?
8. What made me happy today?
So here is my challenge to you, before you go to sleep tonight ask yourself all eight questions, too tired ask yourself 1 of them – then go to sleep with a smile on your face! I promise you will wake up with one, or perhaps your partner will!
Here in this venue if you feel comfortable please share the answers to any of the Senses questions.
RULES: NO RULES
STRONG SUGGESTION: No negative comments about anyone else’s favorites!
Gentle Suggestion: I know everyone loves songs, movies, TV Shows but please share something that you experienced, companion’s perfume, child’s laugh, sunset over the Kansas plain, a new cooking experience.
Feel free to be brief of as long winded as you like, I appreciate anyone and everyone who shares comments or messages
Volumes have been written on the benefits of being team oriented and having a collaborative environment in the work place. What can be said is that a collaborative atmosphere is absolutely critical to peak performance as well as providing a framework for informal training.
One aspect of team building is bringing in the whole person. Social events like a sporting event, a luncheon, or even the company anniversary can help break down barriers of communication between coworkers and management. Secondly, soliciting feedback on a regular basis from associates can aid the collaborative environment; authenticity is important though feedback must in some way impact the organization. .
Have a project that needs a cross-functional team – another excellent venue to increase cooperation. Rotating leadership responsibility within the team can speed up collaboration too!
There are many more ways to foster the collaborative environment in your organization; the keys are honest two way communication and a good excuse to work together!
Below are some additional references, there are many more:
In order to uncover hidden talent in your organization there are two main ingredients you need. First your company must engender an atmosphere of collaboration, the team environment critical to many operations today. This even in light of the reality that employees are in fact competing with each other, for bonuses and promotions. We will talk more about that later, the second key ingredient is access to tools which empower workers to express not only new ways of doing things your doing already, but also the capture of new ideas – new venues that may be in fact the next step in the evolution of your company or key insights to avoid pitfalls that may only be observed at close range.
Blogs – the free writing of ideas for public or private consumption. It is no accident that many news organizations often refer to many different blogs for stories and ideas that a thin organization cannot hope to possible cover completely. Fact checking is essential to the function of using these blogs but in the end some sources prove themselves to be reliable and fact oriented. Your teammates each have unique experiences and skills that are the result of many years of refinement and the school of hard knocks. Not everyone is a skilled writer and so wide means of expression including diagrams, video, and audio should be supported by the toolset you choose.
Wiki’s – Hawaiian for quick these customizable web pages should not be underestimated. The printing press in many historians minds caused the Renaissance, the wiki is a jump in the next stage of communication. Empowering many collaborative authors a wiki is best used when describing objective reality, this limits the back and forth that one can experience in a discussion forum. While your employees can write volumes on their personal blog – proving their expertise in areas which some will be directly related to your business; the wiki’s can be used as a place for brief abstracts of blogs, so that other employees and management can review the abstracts to determine which blogs to further explore.
Just these two Web 2.0 tools: blogs and wikis can begin to document much of the informal trading of information which is done and re-done and re-done in your company everyday. To reinforce these two the ability to follow or become a fan of particular blogs and wiki pages can utilize the same social forces which are prevalent in the external social media buzz today.
In short using several of the social networking tools but installed behind your firewall or in a private hosted cloud can begin to bring the untapped skills and knowledge of your knowledge workers to help your company profit more.
In today’s fast paced business environment it is widely recognized that most training in the corporate environment is done informally. Employees are sent to follow others around to observe the details of the proficient or those labeled trainer. Rarely is there documentation or even reference guides that the employee can refer to for additional clarity. Research has found that between 67% and 73% of all training in business is done informally.
Clearly lack of time is a contributing factor, but tools available in the Web 2.0 toolbox can help.
The strategic usage of blogs, wiki’s and other social media tools can provide a framework so while the training remains informal, documentation and cross training can become a natural outgrowth of practices put in place to develop in-house expertise. In the following entries we will discuss how to provide the framework, initiate its germination, and cultivate its continued growth.
