From time to time I see a post about social media that proclaims “It’s the Tools” or ‘It’s the tactics” or “It’s the knowledge”. Each one of these posts inevitably go on to proclaim why it’s the tools, tactics, or knowledge that are the main driving force behind social media. Each one of these post is also horribly wrong. It’s not just the tools or the tactics or the knowledge that single handedly drive a social media effort. It’s a combination of all these working in harmony. This harmony is different from industry to industry. Some industries could have a heavy lean on the tools. While others could have a heavy lean on the tactics or knowledge.
If you agree it’s just the tools or tactics or knowledge then I would ask you to answer the following questions.
- Who are you trying to reach?
- If you can’t answer the 1st question then stop right there. Do not pass go. Do not collect $200. Go directly to jail.
- If you can answer the first question congratulations and here is $200. Can you answer the 2nd question?
- Where are those you are trying to reach?
- If you can’t answer the 2st question then stop right there. Do not pass go. Do not collect $400. Go directly to jail.
- If you were able to answer question 2 here is a pat on the back and $400. Can you answer the 3rd?
- Why social media the best option?
- If you can’t answer this one or more importantly if you can’t truthfully answer this one STOP. DO not pas go. Do not collect $600. Go directly to jail.
- If you were able to answer this one then you get a High five and here is your $600. Ready to try for question 4?
- Is your company ready to engage those you are trying to reach?
- If you can’t answer this one or more importantly if you can’t truthfully answer this one STOP. DO not pas go. Do not collect $800. Go directly to jail.
- If you were able to answer this one then you get a High five and here is your $800
I’m going to stop here because questions 3 or 4 are usually the stumbling blocks for most companies. Question 3 is a really hard one to be quite honest. The wording of the question tends to trip people up. Your not just asking is social media is right for this effort. Your also going to be asking where does social media fit into my overall digital strategy. This is by far the hardest question to answer because you need to go down the digital strategy rabbit hole to even begin to answer this question.
If by some glorious event you can answer question 3 then you are hit with question 4. What does engage mean to you? What does engage mean to your customers? What does engage mean to the big brains you consult with? This is yet another rabbit hole that is going to take time to figure out for your company.
Question 3 and 4 are what I like to call the Knock Out (KO) questions. KO questions are meant to find the hole in your thinking or logic behind why social media is the best option for your customer and company. These 2 question if you are not prepared to answer them will stop your effort dead in its tracks.
There is a reason we have to ask these question. If you don’t then you are setting yourself and your effort up for failure from the start. Please do yourself and your customers a favor and answer these questions.
Tags: Digital Strategy, Questions, Social Media
Tue, February 9 2010 » Development, Growth, Social Media » 1 Comment
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We don’t innovate here. Hearing those words changed my entire work outlook. Those words also sent a meeting off the rails and into the back corner to be dusted off later. It’s not something you expect to hear someone say. Why would you? Companies are supposed to be forward thinking and reaching towards the edge right?
So why was I sitting in a meeting that those very words were uttered in? To be honest I don’t know any longer. I sat in that meeting and listened to the opinions and discussions going on while quietly formulating my own opinions to bring up. See I don’t like to speak until I know what my stance in on something. This ability was a hard lesson to learn because well I tend to fly off the cuff sometimes and the outcome is never what I had intended it to be.
Back to this meeting where things changed forever. We don’t innovate here kept playing over and over in my head for a few seconds. Did I hear that right? Was a management level person really saying those words to their team? I must have heard it wrong right? Was I in the right meeting?
Nope, we don’t innovate here, was exactly what I had heard and yes I was in the right meeting. It was at that point my own ideas and opinions went back into the deep dark life sucking regions of my head. You know that feeling you get when you go from inside to outside of a building in winter that pushing or sucking of your being in or out of a building?
That’s exactly how I was feeling. I can say I physically felt myself withdraw for that meeting. I can also tell you I could feel myself mentally withdraw from that meeting as well.
We don’t innovate here, was the worst thing to say to a team that was seeing their moral drained from their souls for the previous 6 to 9 months and it was said at the worst possible time.
Traits for Leaders:
- Decisiveness – Make good decisions without delay! This is one of my pet peeves. Far too often people sit on their hands and think over a decision. This causes a ripple effect and slows the rest of the company down.
- Enthusiasm – Have a sincere interest & exuberance in what you do.
- Initiative – Don’t wait for orders Take charge! Prompt action when meeting new or unexpected situations.
- Integrity – Be honest and truthful about what you say and do.
- Justice – Be fair and consistent in your leadership practices. Favoritism will rip a team or company apart with time.
As a leader you are supposed to lead. You are supposed to inspire. You are supposed to be looked upon as what others are striving to become. Becoming a ‘yes’ man or woman is the last thing a leader should become. If you find yourself shying away from a challenge as a leader ask yourself if you are fit to lead your group.
Tags: Development, Innovation, leadership
Mon, January 4 2010 » Development, Growth, Innovation, leadership » No Comments
Mon, January 4 2010 » Twitter » No Comments
Every company should have a set of CORE rules. These rules will define a company. Breaking one of these core rules is grounds for mocking heckling and jeering, as well as immediate dismissal. Companies should give prospective job seekers these rules in the interview process as a kind of introduction to the company.
Rule 1 should define relationship:
1. You are not an employee. You are a partner.
Or
1. You will be an employee of this company reporting to higher management.
Rule 2 should define the working environment:
2. We do not care when or where you do your work as long as the work is completed on-time and meets or exceeds the projects needs.
Or
2. You must be in the office Monday through Friday 9 to 5.
Rule 3 should define meetings:
3. Meetings are to last no longer than 1 hour at most. We prefer 30 minute meetings.
Or
3. Meetings are in integral part of this company and as such can last for many hours at a time.
Rule 4 should define who you can work with:
4. We encourage you to work with a wide variety of people from diverse backgrounds & skill sets on your projects.
Or
4. Working within your department is the optimal way we function here at xyz.
Rule 5 is about the customer:
5. The Customer is NOT always right. Educate them!
Or
5. Listen to what your customer is telling you and adapt to their needs.
Now that a job seeker has seen your company’s CORE rules they have a better idea about the culture of the company and if your company is following those rules. So for me the ideal set of CORE rules look like this:
- You are not an employee. You are a partner.
- We do not care when or where you do your work as long as the work is completed on-time and meets or exceeds the projects needs.
- Meetings are to last no longer than 1 hour at most. We prefer 30 minute meetings.
- We encourage you to work with a wide variety of people from diverse backgrounds & skill sets on your projects.
- The Customer is NOT always right. Educate them!
- If you’re showing me static images for a project the project better be a PRINT Project! Web project should be shown in the web browser.
- Do not come to me with only the social media aspect of a project! Come to me with the whole communication plan and how each component fits into the plan.
Tags: Company, Core, CORE Rules, Development, Rules
Mon, December 28 2009 » Development, Growth, Innovation, Interview, leadership » No Comments
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