For years, I have been advocating, educating and pleading for increased transparency in communication inside the firewall. Thinking that most of the issue had to do with change management, not seeing the benefits of transparency and employee engagement, and just learning what the technologies and techniques have to offer, I really have been ignoring the main barrier/obstacle - It isn't always in the companies' (read leaders? Board Members? Leaders? Partners?) best interest to increase transparency - keeping information close and among a few tends to reduce risk, right? Fewer people know of XYZ issue means only those few people had either the opportunity or responsibility to act. If you are an internal communications professional, it probably make you shiver to think of just anyone participating in the message - not just offering an opinion and/or insight but also having the opportunity to help create the message without going through committees of approvals.
Recently, I was working with a group internally who are drafting (by committee) blog comments coming from leaders in the organization. I simultaneously had requests for us to alter code in our blog system to allow for "delegate" access to comments so that someone could post blog comments in the name of the leader. Both of these conversations left me feeling not only have I not succeeded in getting across the message and importance of authenticity and transparency but also that the methods and beliefs of leaders and internal communicators is much stronger than my or others' desire for a more open workplace. Is it the leaders who don't "have time" for such communications channels as blogs (or even posting an encouraging blog post comment) or is it a case of communications leaders not wanting them direct access to employees in this way? Both?
Not sure where I'm going with this, but this is one of those KMUANs I have.
[KMUAN - Keeping Me Up At Night]
Participation inequality inside the firewall? Does the same
Zipf Curve apply?
This is a question which has been on my mind lately - connected also to who are we creating collaboration spaces for? the 90% who lurk? the 10% who contribute/comment? or, the 1% who do it all?
I suppose that that primary user would be that lurker - make the portal/ecosystem easy to lurk - easy to search, and, while we are at it, easy to contribute?
Connected to this, and perhaps not obvious to folks who primarily deal with external sites, is the role the official "Company" information/news/announcements/content plays with the Employee Generated Content. Do we really want to create forums for folks to comment on the PTO policies (I think yes, but I'm not a leader in the organization...) - Ultimately, if an organization wants to know what is on folks' mind, create an environment where they can comment (and not on those yearly employee opinion surveys....)
The Great Book/Shelf Migration 2009 is now officially over. We survived the process, Ikea, Budget Car Rental, ZipCar, Snow/Ice, instructions w/o words, Lowe's, and uneven floors, walls and ceilings.
The great book giveaway is underway!
Here is the view of the new Living Room bookshelf setup - Added the lights.
Just wanted to show of the first of 4 we made today. Learned several things today:
1. Fish tape works better going up wall rather than down.
2. Cleaning as you go makes finishing seem so much better.
3. We will easily fill these bookcases.
Had dinner at a friend's house - he is a social worker and let us know that 1/2 of the staff at his state agency were being laid off. In addition, he is having to cut clients. We still managed to have a good evening full of tales of bravado with the MA Transportation Department, good food, tall tales, and promises to see each other again soon.
Just reminding myself that cold weather and wind will end as the seasons change.
This was taken back in November at Wollaston Beach.
Friday, January 2, 2009 - Second Day of the Great Book Migration 2009. Included:
1) Pick up Budget Cargo Van - no - wait - the place didn't have a van for us
2) Made mobile reservation on ZipCar for a Tacoma Pickup Truck.
3) Drove to Ikea.
4) Picked up shelves
5) Ran them home
6) Treated ourselves to a fried seafood lunch.
7) Put together TV cart.
Saturday - the shelves get built! Stay Tuned.
For those of you who know me, you know several things about me:
- I don't get rid of anything.
- I can't pass up going to a bookstore.
- I can't leave a bookstore without a book.
- I love books - the physicality of them, the print, the smell, etc.
- I have too many for the shelves in my home.
So, after 5 years of hard petitioning, and, after several years post-Ikea placement in Stoughton, MA, I'm getting new bookshelves.
126 inches across - 93 1/4 inches high - 4 BILLY units with height extensions and screwed to the walls.
And, bonus is that the shelves which where in the DiningRoom are going into the Living Room - taking up this odd corner that I suppose other folks put their TVs.
For photos - check out
my set at Flickr.
I'm also blabbing about this on Twitter and Facebook.
Happy New Year!
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