Sunday, June 27, 2010
Wednesday, June 23, 2010
Friday, June 18, 2010
Charlene Li -ping Into My Weekend (#Buzz2010 Recap)
You know what I hate? I hate when I am wrong.
I also hate when I discover that I am not as open as I think I am.
Darn that Charlene Li and her Openness Audit!
I also hate when I discover that I am not as open as I think I am.
“Cultural sharing, what we feel comfortable sharing, has really changed and that has changed how we look at relationships in the workplace.” Charlene Li, author of the book, Groundswell and now Open Leadership, set the Buzz2010 series on fire with her educated and inspired musings on Wednesday, June 16, at Clyde’s in Penn Quarter during Digital Capital Week.
Buzz2010 was packed with recognizable (at least, recognizable to me) non-profit social media types. Think: Maggie McGary, Peggy Hoffman, Ray Van Hilst, Sterling Raphael, Maddie Grant and Lindy Dreyer (of course), Wendy Harman, Jamie Notter, The IFDA Social Media Mavens, and on and on...
The focus of Li’s talk was on building relationships with association members and the public, rather than on the social media tools used to communicate and engage. Hmmm...openness in association leadership? Could this be an issue? I'll let you think about that for the 2.5 seconds it takes for you to give a furious head nod, "YES!!!"
Here are the five basic takeaways (taken from Charlene Li's slides) to inspire open leadership within your organizations:
- Align openness with your strategic goals
- Calculate the new lifetime value of a “customer”
- Find and develop your open leaders
- Prepare your organization
- Embrace failure
- Managing Risk, July 20–Risk is a reality on the social web, whether you choose to engage or not. So what is your tolerance for social media risk and how do you manage it? What do you need to do as a leader to ensure that your organization is taking the proper course to manage your unique risks?
- Social Media ROI, August 18–With all the talk around social media, the question of ROI is the most vexing. Why should you pour your organization’s time and resources into something so unproven? And how do you make sure that the resources you do apply create business value?
Tuesday, June 15, 2010
No Zzzzzzs for Buzz
Tomorrow morning I'll be attending the 1st event in the Buzz2010 conference series (part of #DCWeek) by the smarties at SmartBrief and SocialFish and I need my beauty sleep. ...Why?...
There is no snoozing at Buzz2010. The Buzz experience is all about quality content. If last year's Buzz is any indication, there will be no passive listening fluff in these sessions.
Also, this year I am part of Team Buzz, a cracker jack group (if I do say so, myself) of bloggers and social media types who will be reporting on Buzz2010 throughout the various events. I need to be well-rested to run with this bright crowd.
My Checklist for Tomorrow's Buzz2010 Event with Charlene Li:
- Starbucks Via (which I first sampled at last year's Buzz, courtesy of Guy Kawasaki)
- Groundswell and Open Leadership books for Charlene Li to sign
- Laptop, iPhone with cracked screen (yes, I pre-ordered the 4 today), iPad envy, Flip
- Emergency flip flops (danced with the SocialFish the other night and still recovering)
- UStream Producer installed and ready for action - planning a little Sweet Spot on the spot recording
- a charger for my phone (because I've been forgetting my charger a lot lately)
Wednesday, June 9, 2010
An Interview: My Answers to a Video Interview I Gave Today
Maybe only 2 or 3 minutes of my answers will be used for the final product, but I thought I'd share the text version of my interview (more or less) talking about what I do and what I think about associations and social media...
1. What is your role at DelCor?
I represent the social media and group collaboration component of what DelCor offers to clients. If there is a question about how to make the most of the social components of their AMS, training staff on social media use for business, development of a social media policy, strategy, or even if they need a social media manager or community manager, I am experienced in those areas. I can also work with special event social media campaigns and in development of online member communities. All of that and I can even do speaking for association events on topics like those I just mentioned. I stay busy.
2. What is the value of social media to associations?
Well, it is important to remember the whole purpose for most, if not all associations, to even exist is to bring specific groups of people together. This is a golden age for associations because the world has given us the technology to do what associations have always done in uniting people, but to do it even better than they have before. We have the resources around these industries, sciences, or topics that association members need…associations have the experience and knowledge to make this desire to work together as a community a successful venture. The carpenters have just been handed a nail gun instead of a hammer and three nails. Now what?
3. Why did you create the Social Media Sweet Spot?
The Social Media Sweet Spot was the result of my anguish over reading so many quality blogs and attending so many valuable events in the social media association realm and not being able to share them with everyone. I could link to something from a blog on Twitter or write a review of a blog post, but there is such a huge amount of material coming out on a daily basis, that I wanted to have a way to point out the *NOT TO MISS* pieces to association professionals. I also wanted a way to connect to people in the association world in a way that was helpful, but also fun. I come from years and years of working for several associations and I love the community. I love going to ASAE Annual, for instance, and being able to be a part of this association world and I wanted to capture that fun, informal (but informative – because we’re all wearing so many hats) – sort of feel for a regular online experience.
4. What’s the role of IT in social media and community engagement?
IT’s role in social media is vital and often misunderstood. The important thing to realize is that there is so much that falls within the scope of the IT domain, that we can’t expect all IT department heads to enmesh themselves with something so amorphous as social media. They have to make sure data is safe. They have to make sure the website stays up. They provide the infrastructure so that an association can use tools like those involved with social media and community engagement, but IT and your social media director need to be able to communicate about security issues and potential technical problems so that the association is safe – that the data stays secure and supports the ongoing mission.
5. How do you stay on top of social media trends?
Staying on top of social media trends is like following sports…every day is a new game and players can change rapidly. I use tools like Google Reader to capture blogs that regularly update me with fresh, intelligent information. I also track keywords and specific chats on Twitter and I read just about every book that gets published on the subject. We’re at the point in social media when it isn’t enough to say “Golly, how neat! Let’s try this Facebook thing!” and executives are looking for real numbers and data to back up social media plans…and that’s a really good thing because it narrows the playing field and helps single out the voices of those who are diligently and honestly passionate about the enormous potential an association, business, publication, or service has with using social media.
6. Is social media a fad?
Maybe the use of the phrase, “social media” is a fad, but the technology behind it isn’t. People did not stop using the telephone in favor of telegrams or courier pigeons and they aren’t going to sacrifice the ease and convenience of instantaneous communication to the masses when it is available to them.
7. What is the next big thing in this area?
I don’t know about the next big thing, but the huge for the present and immediate future is mobile. Are your publications interactive and available on mobile devices? Whether it be the iPad or another tablet, just looking at Wired magazine on the iPad shows you what the possibilities are with publication and how exciting that world is becoming.
Can your members do most of what they need to do from their smartphones or other mobile devices? Have you considered ways to incorporate geo-location applications to make your member experience better, maybe help them identify other chapter leaders within the same city or identify similar interests when roaming an expo floor?
Mobile is a big area for development as far as associations and social media go, but many associations need to revisit the basics first…maybe even starting with a new comprehensive look at their database to see what is or isn’t fully being used and what it will take to start collecting the information they need. Data is valuable and most associations don’t take the time to properly and efficiently collect that information which leads to an amazing amount of inefficiency and even lowers staff morale.
8. How does your work integrate into other IT projects?
You have to know the databases and member relations systems in use today are always changing. An association’s AMS or CMS is going to have updates or new features relating to social media because the industry is asking for it. I work with other DelCor consultants on projects like AMS selection or ways to improve webinars because what my expertise is in now overlaps with these systems and I can help identify ways to maximize a system already in use or evaluate a potential new database for it’s social features.
9. What’s your favorite tech gadget?
My iPhone is my Swiss Army knife for my life. It helps me choose a restaurant, make the reservation, find it while driving, locate parking garages nearby, save my parking spot location, check in so I can maybe get a discount for being a regular visitor of that location and keep my daughter occupied with tot games while we wait for the bread basket that I am already calculating my calories from using a diet application. :) I sleep with my iPhone.
I represent the social media and group collaboration component of what DelCor offers to clients. If there is a question about how to make the most of the social components of their AMS, training staff on social media use for business, development of a social media policy, strategy, or even if they need a social media manager or community manager, I am experienced in those areas. I can also work with special event social media campaigns and in development of online member communities. All of that and I can even do speaking for association events on topics like those I just mentioned. I stay busy.
2. What is the value of social media to associations?
Well, it is important to remember the whole purpose for most, if not all associations, to even exist is to bring specific groups of people together. This is a golden age for associations because the world has given us the technology to do what associations have always done in uniting people, but to do it even better than they have before. We have the resources around these industries, sciences, or topics that association members need…associations have the experience and knowledge to make this desire to work together as a community a successful venture. The carpenters have just been handed a nail gun instead of a hammer and three nails. Now what?
3. Why did you create the Social Media Sweet Spot?
The Social Media Sweet Spot was the result of my anguish over reading so many quality blogs and attending so many valuable events in the social media association realm and not being able to share them with everyone. I could link to something from a blog on Twitter or write a review of a blog post, but there is such a huge amount of material coming out on a daily basis, that I wanted to have a way to point out the *NOT TO MISS* pieces to association professionals. I also wanted a way to connect to people in the association world in a way that was helpful, but also fun. I come from years and years of working for several associations and I love the community. I love going to ASAE Annual, for instance, and being able to be a part of this association world and I wanted to capture that fun, informal (but informative – because we’re all wearing so many hats) – sort of feel for a regular online experience.
4. What’s the role of IT in social media and community engagement?
IT’s role in social media is vital and often misunderstood. The important thing to realize is that there is so much that falls within the scope of the IT domain, that we can’t expect all IT department heads to enmesh themselves with something so amorphous as social media. They have to make sure data is safe. They have to make sure the website stays up. They provide the infrastructure so that an association can use tools like those involved with social media and community engagement, but IT and your social media director need to be able to communicate about security issues and potential technical problems so that the association is safe – that the data stays secure and supports the ongoing mission.
5. How do you stay on top of social media trends?
Staying on top of social media trends is like following sports…every day is a new game and players can change rapidly. I use tools like Google Reader to capture blogs that regularly update me with fresh, intelligent information. I also track keywords and specific chats on Twitter and I read just about every book that gets published on the subject. We’re at the point in social media when it isn’t enough to say “Golly, how neat! Let’s try this Facebook thing!” and executives are looking for real numbers and data to back up social media plans…and that’s a really good thing because it narrows the playing field and helps single out the voices of those who are diligently and honestly passionate about the enormous potential an association, business, publication, or service has with using social media.
6. Is social media a fad?
Maybe the use of the phrase, “social media” is a fad, but the technology behind it isn’t. People did not stop using the telephone in favor of telegrams or courier pigeons and they aren’t going to sacrifice the ease and convenience of instantaneous communication to the masses when it is available to them.
7. What is the next big thing in this area?
I don’t know about the next big thing, but the huge for the present and immediate future is mobile. Are your publications interactive and available on mobile devices? Whether it be the iPad or another tablet, just looking at Wired magazine on the iPad shows you what the possibilities are with publication and how exciting that world is becoming.
Can your members do most of what they need to do from their smartphones or other mobile devices? Have you considered ways to incorporate geo-location applications to make your member experience better, maybe help them identify other chapter leaders within the same city or identify similar interests when roaming an expo floor?
Mobile is a big area for development as far as associations and social media go, but many associations need to revisit the basics first…maybe even starting with a new comprehensive look at their database to see what is or isn’t fully being used and what it will take to start collecting the information they need. Data is valuable and most associations don’t take the time to properly and efficiently collect that information which leads to an amazing amount of inefficiency and even lowers staff morale.
8. How does your work integrate into other IT projects?
You have to know the databases and member relations systems in use today are always changing. An association’s AMS or CMS is going to have updates or new features relating to social media because the industry is asking for it. I work with other DelCor consultants on projects like AMS selection or ways to improve webinars because what my expertise is in now overlaps with these systems and I can help identify ways to maximize a system already in use or evaluate a potential new database for it’s social features.
9. What’s your favorite tech gadget?
My iPhone is my Swiss Army knife for my life. It helps me choose a restaurant, make the reservation, find it while driving, locate parking garages nearby, save my parking spot location, check in so I can maybe get a discount for being a regular visitor of that location and keep my daughter occupied with tot games while we wait for the bread basket that I am already calculating my calories from using a diet application. :) I sleep with my iPhone.
Monday, June 7, 2010
Monday, May 24, 2010
Everyone Needs a Savvy Redhead in their Arsenal
My task was to build a chapter program from the ground up and thanks to the advice of my dear friend (and new boss at the time), Ginny, I found great pearls of wisdom on the ASAE Component Relations listserv and by following the advice of one Cynthia D'Amour.
Cynthia D'Amour is not only one of the most creative personalities you will ever meet, but she lives and breathes chapter relations and leadership development. She is a supportive and knowledgeable soul and is widely recognized for her abilities as well as her vibrant red hair. Cynthia actually wrote the book on component relations (actually, she has written several books on leadership and component relations) and is an avid supporter of the chapter professional community online and everywhere she goes.
Her advice helped me build a chapter program from the ground up in my early association days and this Wednesday (May 26, 2010) she will share her expertise on a free conference call, "Helping Struggling Components Succeed."
You can read more about Cynthia on her blog at http://cynthiadamour.com/, but if you are in any way interested in leadership of groups or chapter-relations, definitely register for the call on Wednesday. You won't be sorry!
Register here: http://www.asaecenter.org/ProgramsEvents/EventDetail.cfm?ItemNumber=50337
Friday, May 21, 2010
Hurt So Good: I Need to Be a Better Team Player
Whine, whine, whine. That's what I feel like doing. But I can't because I'm the problem.
Okay, so you see, this is how it works...I try really hard to do a good job with most things. But, recently I received word from someone that I didn't do this one thing so well. In fact, she felt confused, uncomfortable, even lied to. Not good.
I had a few excuses already popping into my head for why things didn't turn out better. My natural inclination is to find excuses or get defensive. But I didn't want to do that because at the end of the day, I knew I could have and should have done better.
How could I have let this happen? At some level I was afraid of showing my ignorance, I'm sure. But it was more than that...it was not accepting true ownership over a project that I was sharing with someone else. And, to some extent, not being a good team player.
Have you ever done that? Been co-presenting with someone and left something to the last minute? Or worked on a project that someone else leads, and you kind of falter along barely scraping by with your support work?
Communication is so important. I am great at it in so many areas in my life, but when it comes to establishing boundaries with some projects, I am often afraid of "stepping on toes" or "being a drag" on someone else. Therefore, I am not jumping at the chance to ask for more help or to taking control of projects that need me to provide guidance.
This is a confessional sort of post. Therapeutic. I would love to hear if any of you face these same situations. Do you find it hard to establish your place in a team project when you are not the leader? I like being in charge of a well-defined project, but have always (even all the way back in grade school science projects) done better when working alone.
Ironically, I never necessarily saw myself as a leader. I imagined myself in that position, but never thought I had the charisma to pull it off. Now, charisma is the least of my concerns...I just want to be a valuable team player and never let someone down again like I did today.
How can I prevent this from happening again?
I had a few excuses already popping into my head for why things didn't turn out better. My natural inclination is to find excuses or get defensive. But I didn't want to do that because at the end of the day, I knew I could have and should have done better.
How could I have let this happen? At some level I was afraid of showing my ignorance, I'm sure. But it was more than that...it was not accepting true ownership over a project that I was sharing with someone else. And, to some extent, not being a good team player.
Have you ever done that? Been co-presenting with someone and left something to the last minute? Or worked on a project that someone else leads, and you kind of falter along barely scraping by with your support work?
Communication is so important. I am great at it in so many areas in my life, but when it comes to establishing boundaries with some projects, I am often afraid of "stepping on toes" or "being a drag" on someone else. Therefore, I am not jumping at the chance to ask for more help or to taking control of projects that need me to provide guidance.
This is a confessional sort of post. Therapeutic. I would love to hear if any of you face these same situations. Do you find it hard to establish your place in a team project when you are not the leader? I like being in charge of a well-defined project, but have always (even all the way back in grade school science projects) done better when working alone.
Ironically, I never necessarily saw myself as a leader. I imagined myself in that position, but never thought I had the charisma to pull it off. Now, charisma is the least of my concerns...I just want to be a valuable team player and never let someone down again like I did today.
How can I prevent this from happening again?
- Being clear about the status of what I am working on
- Not shying away from difficult situations/conversations
- Admitting when I disagree with the way something is happening
- Just doing the boring backup stuff
- Communicating to the point of annoyance
Thursday, May 13, 2010
Tassels
Tassels can provide the finishing touch on furniture or drapes. They can also help you distinguish your alpaca from someone else's in Peru. Are tassels essential? No. But they are fun, entertaining, and helpful should you need to grab the right alpaca in a quick getaway.
Why are you looking at me with that smirk on your face? Was it something I said? Do you know where your organization's tassels are?
I remember discovering one organization's tassels buried on their website. Three, maybe four, steps into their content, there it was...a blog with (gasp!) activity - a real conversation had been taking place - and then I saw there were no new posts in the past three months. When I asked about the forgotten blog, the marketing director told me the chair had changed and the new chair wasn't interested in things like blogs. So, the once shiny new toy was placed to the side and buried.
I asked the marketing director why they hadn't asked another leader to take it on and he told me they hadn't considered it. After a little more discussion, we changed subjects and went on to discuss other things.
A few months later, I visited their website and saw a rejuvenated website...and a revival of their blog with a snappy button for people to subscribe if they so chose. Apparently, they had discovered a new leader to write for their blog and were proudly sharing it with their members! They hadn't invented an entirely new concept. They hadn't even created a new communication method. They just gave something another look and added the sparkle back to it. Energy in - energy out. *Jazz hands*
So, what do you say, are you ready to swing your tassels? I'll bet your members are.
Sunday, May 2, 2010
Social Media Events I’m Interested In (Mostly in DC Area - some elsewhere)
2nd Tuesdays Tech ‘tails and Networking Salon May 11, 5:30pm at Gua Rapo, Arlington, dc The Capital Cabal presents 2nd Tuesday, a special networking event for all D.C. area techies, webbies, quasi-webbies, and smart business people who appreciate a smart crowd. <--probably going to this!
Making Your Media Matter May 12 Washington, D.C. Making Your Media Matter is a conference for established and aspiring filmmakers, nonprofit communications leaders, funders and students looking to learn and share cutting-edge practices for making their media matter.
Winning Media Strategies May 20–22 Washington, D.C. BIA/Kelsey’s annual conference focused on the latest developments and trends for enhancing the traditional media business and creating the progressive change television, radio, cable and newspaper companies must make to ensure long-term success.
Conference on Weblogs and Social Media May 23–26 Washington, D.C. The 4th International Conference on Weblogs and Social Media brings together researchers from disparate disciplines to increase our understanding of social media in all its incarnations. This event will be held in Washington, D.C., where government innovators are experimenting with the use of social media to increase transparency and better engage with the citizenry.
Gov 2.0 Expo May 25–27 Washington, D.C. Government 2.0 is about empowering government employees to serve citizens better and opening up the government into a platform that enables citizens to better help their communities.
TWTRCON NY June 14 New York TWTRCON NY is a one-day conference focused entirely on the business use of Twitter where you’ll see case studies and learn best practices from leading organizations that are using the real-time Web to deliver bottom-line results.
Gnomedex Aug. 19–21 Seattle Gnomedex is a top gathering of geeks, open source pioneers and cool kids.
Inbound Marketing Summit — Boston Oct. 6–7 Boston Chris Brogan presents the third in a series of social influence marketing conferences for 2010.
Online News Association Oct. 28–30 Washington, D.C. The 10th annual gathering of new media movers and shakers, journalists and online news managers.
LeWeb Dec. Paris LeWeb is the top Internet event in Europe, with 2,400 participants from 50 countries attending in 2009. No date yet for the 2010 event.
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