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Brand Thinking

ThisMuchWeKnow

The usual awesomesauce from @brainpickings – this time in reviewing Debiie Millman’s Brand Thinking. And, at TMWK, we do think about brand. We think brand is about defining how your particular genius: “This is why you need me” in the context of your employer conversation; “This is how I am my best” in relation to anyone understanding you better. As the article breaks down, there is much tension in the discussion of “brand” meaning. I do not disagree. Professionally, it is a term that, when injected into conversation, will equally have people leaning in and openly grimacing. As individuals (versus … Continue reading Brand Thinking

The Curious Will Inherit The WorldLeave a comment

Curious Kids: 24/7 Learning

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A drop-in to Mario’s coffee shop on Main Street for some R&R but, for the kids, there is no such thing. Constant runs to the bookshelf to refresh reading opportunities. A book in Romanian, no problem, there is still something to learn. For the parents, too. Every day is a learning day. #curious kids reading, reading, reading. vine.co/v/b0DHzIzUwE6 — Jonathan Anthony (@ThisMuchWeKnow) May 12, 2013 ←This Much We Know.→ Continue reading Curious Kids: 24/7 Learning

Social Business, The Future of Work1 Comment

“Everybody” Is The New “High Potential”

ThisMuchWeKnow

Once, many, many years ago, aged 13 or so, I was called out as High Potential (Hi-Po) at my local school. I was put in some kind of brainiac class and given challenging mental gymnastics to solve. I am not sure for what end the class was conceived. I remember enjoying it, but probably its main outcome was that I thought I was more special than I was. It took a few years for the arrogance to wear off – when I flunked my A level exams aged 18 and, instead of going to Cambridge to prepare myself for running … Continue reading “Everybody” Is The New “High Potential”

The Curious Will Inherit The World, The Future of Work3 Comments

“The Edge” Is The New “Core”

ThisMuchWeKnow

Squeezing a single reference article really tight, thrice over, another important point made by Hagel (who is Co-Chair of the Deloitte Center for the Edge) is how organizations must support and reorient around those workers who are at, and who push, the edge. This means embracing a kind of cognitive dissonance: look for those who are moving in new directions, maybe even away from the organization, and seeing if that is your new tomorrow too.   The edge worker is the future of your organization. No more sucking up to the Big Boss and being a Yes (Wo)Man. No more repeating … Continue reading “The Edge” Is The New “Core”

Social Business, The Future of Work2 Comments

The “Individual” Is The New “Institution”

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Another distinction made by John Hagel in his conversation with Stowe Boyd (after “Learning” Is The New “Efficiency”) is a change of perspective away from individuals adapting to the organization’s requirements, to the organizational requirement to adapt to the (learning) demands of the individual. “…if you take scalable learning as the key rationale for institutions to exist, then the individual becomes front and center…you can’t learn without individuals taking initiative and you can’t predict the learning that happens through serendipity, or unexpected experiments.” In the last post I said, Making organizations about learning (and therefore about people) rather than process … Continue reading The “Individual” Is The New “Institution”

Social Business, The Future of Work1 Comment

“Learning” Is The New “Efficiency”

ThisMuchWeKnow

Excellent input, as usual from John Hagel, in conversation with the “Socialogist” Stowe Boyd. What is the need of the modern organization? Recently, the push for efficiency at scale has driven organizations and markets (and their value). Now, however, perhaps because of the overall success of this drive, efficiency is, incrementally, increasingly difficult. We need a new organizational motivator. How about learning at scale instead? My own definition of a learning organization (after Peter Senge) is: We learn to learn together, in order to obtain the results we want together. Making organizations about learning (and therefore about people) rather than … Continue reading “Learning” Is The New “Efficiency”

Social Business, The Future of Work2 Comments

“Giving” Is The New “Taking”

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Continuing the recent “X” Is The New “Y” theme, I liked this very rich write up from McKinsey on the culture of organizations and how cooperative behaviour (or lack thereof) impacts results. It documents some excellent data and research. Organizations that give more than they take are the highest performing. In giver cultures, employees are: helping others, sharing knowledge, offering mentoring, and making connections without expecting anything in return. Meanwhile, in taker cultures, the norm is to get as much as possible from others while contributing less in return. Employees help only when they expect the personal benefits to exceed the … Continue reading “Giving” Is The New “Taking”

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Curious Kids: Going That Extra Step

ThisMuchWeKnow

I watched my kids get face painted the other day. Nice butterfly! Oh, a heart! And then, when I turned my head, first a clown face, then socks and mittens, then strange arm and leg hieroglyphics. Final result? A new body of paint. Watching the process of more, of extra, of what if…and why not…marvellous. It all came off in the shower, eventually. My children remind me again, over and over, what it is to be in the moment, learning, moving forward. Thanks, m’dahlings. ←This Much We Know.→ Continue reading Curious Kids: Going That Extra Step

Social Business, The Future of Work1 Comment

“Adapt” Is The New “Adopt.”

ThisMuchWeKnow

One final A –> B vernacular twist, again via Luis Suarez… Whenever we drive “social” adoption, we are trying to get others to learn something new. Learning, for adults, is complex. Many adults really don’t like learning new things. It is asking a lot. However, when we ask people to adapt, it is different. Still not easy per se, adaptation implies people have the wherewithal to get ‘er done. It is effort that is required, not learning from scratch. I like that. Ain’t Anti-Social Asking others to adopt social implies they might be anti-social. But we can all adapt social, … Continue reading “Adapt” Is The New “Adopt.”

Social Business, The Future of Work3 Comments

“Open” Is The New “Social.”

ThisMuchWeKnow

As we drive change in our organizations and embrace the future of work – one that is hyperconnected, iterative, conversational, Cluetrained – we butt heads with those who think differently. Where we desire hyperconnection, they prefer walled gardens. Where we embrace iteration, they follow linearity. Where we converse, they broadcast. Where we jump on the back of the Cluetrain as it rumbles through town, they line up at the airport for the F W Taylor Scientific Management jumbo jet. Among many points of contention with the others, “Social” is often where we come to blows. For while social implies to … Continue reading “Open” Is The New “Social.”

Social Business, The Future of Work2 Comments

“Social Business” Is The New “Social Media”

ThisMuchWeKnow

Media may be the new Brand, but it doesn’t mean everyone gets it. Maybe times have changed, but here is a 6-7 word sentence that has failed more often than it has succeeded: “I need budget / resources for social media.” For some corporate executives it is hard to imagine two more frivolous words / concepts. Social + media = fail. One way to build muscle and confidence, and circumvent denigration of the MarComms work at hand, in conversation with executives is to reframe it more centrally to the business mandate. One small, meaningful move is to stop talking about social media … Continue reading “Social Business” Is The New “Social Media”