Most research indicates that having some external way to track change and see that it is happening helps accelerate the process – at the very least, it helps with motivation.

I think it is true for organisations as a whole – talking to Johnnie Moore at the NESTA session (see the social decision making post) it is clear that not enough businesses spend time “thinking about their thinking” – ie reflecting on the approach to how things are done, rather than just how they are done.

You’ve also touched on the issue of subjectivity and objectivity, which is dear to my heart!

On the MD front, there are some good arguments to not have your MD as the primary blogger or spokesperson, but time needn’t be one. There are ways to make blogging a very efficient (see “making a blogging mirror“) and tools like WordPress are amazingly easy to use. I’m not a fan of “shadow blogging” – it is fraught with all sorts of problems – but some people do go down that path.

Another one of the consequences of social media is that business need to start thinking about every employee as being a public spokesperson. Again, they always have been, but the last few decades of PR emphasis on PRESS relations rather than Public Relations has fooled many into thinking that only a select few hold that responsibility. Again, an emphasis on change from within (have a good culture and staff throughout), rather than without.

I am a firm believer in planning where I want to get to and keeping my goals in sight. The route may change but the end destination will remain the same, that way I am committed to achieving that goal – no matter how long it takes.

“what happens if we let something out via a blog by accident?” My MD is deliberating this exact concern, he wants to have a company blog but has No time to manage/update it himself and therefore he would have to leave this in my hands!! It is a valid concern, but how do others manage it?

There is a definite change in media, social media has found itself. But this is a result of changes that run deeper than media itself – the social element is a spin off (a great one) from changes within our society and not a revolution. More of an evolution.

Thanks
Lee