“Social Learning,” by Tony Bingham and Marcia Conner

This book does a really good job of connecting the dots between the old “Learning Organization” that we all wanted our companies to become, and the world of collaborative possibilities in the new and social media sphere. I have to confess, I really went highlighter-crazy on this one, and one of the first pieces of text I found insightful for me was this:

“A research program at IBM’s Institute for Knowledge-Based Organizations, further supported by work done between the Network Roundtable led by Rob Cross at the University of Virginia and Bill Kahn of Boston University, consistently found that better-connected people enjoy substantial performance, learning, and decision-making benefits. The research showed that people use communities to find others who provide resources, career development, personal support, and context. The depth and breadth of these relationships, whether they are serendipitous or planned, predicts performance, innovation, employee commitment, and job satisfaction.”

If you are a social media champion at your organization you have probably already witnessed at least some of these benefits in action. But haven’t you always wished you had real, evidence-based research results you could quote chapter and verse to those who still don’t believe these benefits exist? How many of your friends and colleagues have decided its a good idea to open some social media accounts but because they don’t believe in these benefits, they are permanent lurkers (ie., they watch and listen but never reveal anything of themselves… P.S. my husband is one of those!)

But bigger companies are starting to get it: Maybe that’s a reason some of the largest and most successful companies in the world are now using social media INTERNALLY to provide their human assets with a way to connect and synergize their knowledge. But still, there are those who say, “How can these meaningless micro updates possibly turn into something productive? Who cares what I ate for lunch or which project I’m working on this afternoon?” I like Clay Shirky’s answer to this question about why we should compose “status updates” internally, and he coins some pretty nifty language:”

“This is the paradox of AMBIENT AWARENESS. Each little update – each individual bit of social information – is insignificant on its own, even supremely mundane. But taken together, over time, the little snippets coalesce into a surprisingly sophisticated portrait of your colleagues’ lives, like thousands of dots making a pointillist painting. The AMBIENT INFORMATION becomes a ‘type of ESP,’ an invisible dimension floating over us . . .”

Furthermore, Shirky goes on to say that this awareness constitutes an “algorithmic authority,” which I THINK means that if many people are pointing to the same thing at the same time, it just might be worth paying attention to. Doesn’t this ring true? (Plus its just such a cool phrase. . . ). By the way, if you don’t know who Clay Shirky is, the video below is one you really should take a look at, and pass around to your own social sphere:

Finally, since I’m in the business of government healthcare now, I would be remiss if I didn’t cite the use case provided in this book that’s most relevant to my space: that of microblogging by the Mayo Clinic. In Chapter Four of this book, entitled “Microsharing for a Healthy Culture,” we get to see how a world class healthcare organization uses social media internally to build a culture of sharing and personal connection that increases productivity and employee engagement amongst one of the toughest audience groups for all of social media: scientists and physicians. Here’s a nifty quote from the book about one of Mayo’s doc’s, who also happens to lead many of Mayo’s technical initiatives:

“Monty Flinsch, a physical scientist by training, likens microsharing to cloud seeding, the distribution of silver iodine that changes the energy in clouds and leads to rain. When people ask a question or post a link to a resource across Mayo’s internal microsharing tools, their open sharing creates a place where ideas get crystallized. Ideas ignite more sharing, and then normal human relationships take off. People go to lunch, talk on the phone, or invite each other to see something they are working on.”

I believe the many of the benefits of this social learning are real, tangible, and yes even measurable (although not ALL are measurable.) But many organizations will never experience those benefits because they are basically risk averse and don’t want to attempt social media internally because they are stuck on the idea that it will DECREASE productivity because employees will abuse it, rather than INCREASE productivity, because employees are connected and empowered. Sad for those guys, but opportunities galore for those who are willing to take calculated risks and manage them appropriately.

How are you and your company/organization embracing the idea of social learning?

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NonProfit MissionCast 13 Final File.mp3

In today’s episode, we do something just a little different by re-playing in its entirety a webcast by Vocus, the PR company, in which they interview the VP of Communications for the airline, exploring the good, the bad, and the downright ugly of their social media journey. While we usually try to keep this podcast between 10-15 minutes, this one is almost an hour, but we decided to run the whole thing, it’s that good! Very useful tips, insights, and lessons to absorb, both for nonprofits as well as businesses. How do you think they handled their “crisis?” What might you have done differently? How do you think the outcome could have been better (or worse!)? We’d love to hear your feedback!

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NonProfit MissionCast 12 Final File.mp3

In today’s episode, we explore some of the kinds of jobs that are appropriate and productive for summer communications interns to engage in. NonProfits in particular can develop a win-win situation with their interns, because they need the manpower, and the interns need the practical experience. However, we also take a look at the legal implications of UNPAID internships, especially given the fact that the Dept. of  Labor has given us a direct warning that they are cracking down on this practice. So beware, but be smart: listen to today’s episode, do your homework and preparation, and hire an intern on a legal basis to provide some extra manpower to your operation. As always, seek independent legal counsel to make sure you are following the letter of the law, as we are not attorneys and this podcast does not constitute legal advice.

Read more, including links:

Department of Labor on Interns, Unpaid Internships: “DOL to Crack Down on Unpaid Internships.”

http://www.ferris.edu/cob/internships/docs/pdf/Intern_Bridge_FLSA.pdf

“Designing an Internship Program”

Note:  Thanks to Aaron Uhrmacher for some of the ideas about what interns can do in social media for their internships.

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NonProfit MissionCast 11finalmp3

In today’s episode, we explore some of the good, the bad, and the downright ugly of what can happen when a free social media site that you have invested blood, sweat, and tears in goes away. Also in today’s episode we explore multiple collaboration tools and sites that will have your committee, board, and staff singing the same tune from the same page, and having a blast doing it.

Read more, including links:

How to use Google Docs effectively  in a nonprofit: http://www.wildapricot.com/blogs/newsblog/archive/2007/05/17/using-google-docs-as-an-online-collaboration-tool-for-board-members.aspx

Good Book on Enterprise Collaboration:  Enterprise 2.0: New Collaborative Tools for Your Organization’s Toughest Challenges, by Andrew McAfee

General info on social media collaborative tools :  http://socialmediab2b.com/2010/02/b2b-social-media-tools-2/#ixzz0lJmKYnAf

My Committee: http://www.mycommittee.com/

SAP  StreamWork:   http://sapstreamwork.com/

Scribblar (Interactive, multi-user whiteboard and mind-mapping): http://www.screencast.com/users/DrumDog/folders/Jing/media/c014bdb3-925f-4f43-9173-e0e58caa0d08

www.yammer.com

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NonProfit MissionCast 10finalmp3

In today’s episode, we welcome Lisa Goodman, who for the last three years has been the Director of the Womens’ Business Center of Northern Virginia. Lisa also operates two of her own businesses and as she prepares to depart the WBC for a position with the State Department utilizing her engineering skills to design security systems, we wanted to glean the insights she gained during her tenure.
Links:

http:// www.cbponline.org

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MissionCast Episode #9 Audio File

In today’s episode, we venture into the world of intellectual property and copyright law as they relate to social media and all of us who are creating content online. Our guest today is Barbara Berschler, JD, LLM from the law firm of Press, Potter, and Dozier, LLC. Barbara has developed a specialty in this area and answers some of the more basic and yet sticky questions about what we are allowed to do and what we are NOT allowed to do when posting and sharing content online.  How do you make sure you are staying on the right side of being legally social? Do you have a tip to share? Give us a shout or a comment, we’d love to hear from you!

Links to Mentioned Resources:

http://creativecommons.org/choose/

www.berschlerlaw.com

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MissionCast Episode #8 Download

In today’s episode, we re-broadcast an interview between host Lisa Cole and Alexander Yun at the George Mason Entrepreneurship Center, recorded back at the end of 2009 and available on iTunes with other business and entrepreneurship episodes by the folks at George Mason. The topic of discussion is the intersection of social media and public relations, and how the practice of PR has been impacted by the advent of social media tools. and leave a comment so others can benefit from your experience. Are you using podcasting? Have you thought about it? What is holding you back? Maybe we can help!
Links to Mentioned Resources:

www.gabcast.com

www.pubclip.com

www.podcastalley.com/

www.apple.com/itunes/

http://www.odeo.com/

www.makepropaganda.com/

Visit us at www.colecomm.biz and on twitter: @lisacole213

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Mcast07mp3

Host Lisa Cole explores podcasting and how it can promote your business by setting you apart from the crowd, featuring your customers or constituents, and generating business or donations. In the Show Notes, please take a moment and leave a comment so others can benefit from your experience. Are you using podcasting? Have you thought about it? What is holding you back? Maybe we can help!
Links to Mentioned Resources:

www.gabcast.com

www.pubclip.com

www.podcastalley.com/

www.apple.com/itunes/

http://www.odeo.com/

www.makepropaganda.com/

Visit us at www.colecomm.biz and on twitter:   @lisacole213

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NonProfit MissionCast Episode #6

Host Lisa Cole explores social media tools to help get your New Year’s planning and resolutions off to a great start. If you get a chance to try any of the website tools listed below in the Show Notes, please take a moment and leave a comment so others can benefit from your experience. Are you using some other tools for your 2010 planning that are too good not to share? Out with it, then…. and meanwhile, have a community and conversation-filled 2010!

Show Notes:
Links to Mentioned Resources:

www.Dorthy.com

www.joesgoals.com

www.goalsontrack.com

www.8goals.com

www.GoalMigo.com

www.43Things.com

www.Jott.com

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NonProfit MissionCast Episode #5

Transcript

Host Lisa Cole explores how to go about creating a nonprofit YouTube Channel for your organization, and actually getting some great footage on it to promote your cause and brand.

Show Notes:
Links to Video Resources:

http://www.youtube.com/videotoolbox

http://youtube-global.blogspot.com/2009/10/webinar-on-basic-shooting-techniques.html

http://knol.google.com/k/andrew-bossom/how-to-make-a-decent-video/1xa2lpeexuknb/6#

http://www.youtube.com/nonprofits

http://animoto.com/cause/

Seesmic – http://www.seesmic.com/

UStream.tv – http://www.ustream.tv

Justin.tv – http://www.justin.tv

Qik – http://www.qik.com/

Logitech – http://www.logitech.com/

Light Your Video Set with Energy Efficient Bulbs – http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S1qYjcj4-Jg

How to light your video using pro and cheap lights – http://video.thedvshow.com/video/How-to-light-your-video-using