Black Belt Dojo

Give a man a fish...

..and he'll eat for a day - teach him how to fish and he'll eat forever.

That's the old adage behind many development programmes but I think it's got some resonance in our field.

Well, that's what got thinking about the other day when chatting to a new client who'd very proudly told me about some of the break-throughs he'd had in establishing a new IC function in his organisation.

He's had some real success doing simple things like organising proper layouts for announcements and adding some high quality photography to announcements.  "When some people see what good looks like it starts to change what they think about communications" was his point.

A good point in fact.  And he's a very impressive fellow as well with lots of operational (non-communication) expertise to give him credibility.  No doubt he'll leverage this success to introduce a communicating culture in his organisation.

But his comments did remind me of other people who may never escape the 'Delivery trap'.

You know what I mean don't you?

In our desperation to prove our worth we get trapped into 'doing stuff' just to show that we can.  The only trouble is you become seen purely as the person who 'does stuff' - an never get asked your opinion on the things you're yearning to talk about.

Obviously 'doing stuff' as a conversation-opener is important.  Some colleagues just won't understand what you're talking about until you've shown them something (as an agency consultant I was always amazed at pitches when clients were more impressed by the leave-behind stress ball/t-shirt/mug than they were by the concepts we'd tried to explain...).

And for many people a deep relationship starts with a small favour...

But at what point do say "that's your lot..." and how do you start the process of moving people from seeing you as a servant to seeing you as an advisor?

I suppose step one is to find ways of getting them to do it for themselves.  One friend of mine got so sick of explaining to people how to prepare news for the intranet that he produced some simple template that helped people make sensible channel choices long before they turned up at his desk begging for energy sapping help.

And perhaps step two is to find ways of leap-frogging their requests.  Being so well connected and informed that you can spot it coming AND know better than them what they really need to achieve has to be a good move.

But finally, I was very struck by someone the other week who said that she'd really struggled to learn to say 'no'...

Liam

Jan-08-Blackbelt-crew

Here's-our-team-photo-of-the-fantastic-January-08-Blackbelt-crew.(I-am-keeping-my-words-to-a-minimum-for-obvious-reasons,so-no-incriminating-gossip-this-time! )Sue

One-of-those-days?

I am told-I-should-put-this-non-comms-related-escapade-on-the-blog-so...

Ever-had-one-of-those-days?...I-am-having-one-of-those-WEEKS!

Sunday-pm...en-route-to-Birmingham-airport-for-flight-to-Dublin-and-had-puncture-on-M6...Late-to-airport-late-to-Dublin-missed-having-dinner-with-Blackbelter-and-wondrous-blogger-Jeroen(the-odds-on-us-both-being-in-Dublin-on-the-same-day-at-the-same-time-were-probably-a-million-to-one-and-will-never-happen-again!).

So.Am-in-hotel-room-working,and-notice(don't-laugh-ok!)-I-have-piece-of-chocolate-stuck-under-space-bar-on-laptop...so-for-some-stupid-reason-think-it-would-be-a-good-idea-to-use-a-metal-nail-file-to-faff-about-under-keys-and-get-it-out...BAD-idea...manage-to-dislodge-contact-and-space-bar-will-no-longer-work...no-more-work-for-me.

Fortunately-was-in-Dublin-to-run-a-workshop-for-which-you-don't-need-spacebars...!

So.Yesterday-I-waste-a-day-sorting-out-new-tyre-and-buying-attachable-keyboard.(Nice-man-in-PC-world-attempts-to-mend-my-space-bar-by-sticking-contact-on-with-sellotape!!!Doesn't-quite-work!).Buy-wireless-keyboard-but-technical-abilities-are-such-that-can't-make-it-work.Go-back-and-buy-ordinary-wired-one-instead.Sorted.Tyre-on-car.Keyboard-for-laptop.Marvellous.

This-morning-set-off-for-Cranfield-to-Black-Belt-course.Half-way-up-M1-what-happens?ANOTHER-flat-tyre!Not-a-single-one-in-two-years-and-two-in-a-week!Stress-a-lot-but-tell-Liam-to-stretch-out-the-introduction-and-just-manage-to-walk-in-in-time-to-run-my-first-session...Then-come-out-in-break-to-get-laptop-and-keyboard-and-find...was-in-such-a-rush-to-get-out-of-car-that-have-slammed-boot-lid-on-USB-connection-for-new-keyboard!...Is-totally-mangled!-So-now-here-I-am-again-with-mangled-keyboard-and-laptop-with-no-spaces....(now-you-know-why-there-are-dashes-in-between-all-my-words!)

Aaaargh!(And-I-haven't-even-bored-you-with-the-taxi-driver-that-got-lost-on-way-to-Dublin-workshop,laptop-that-wouldn't-talk-to-projector,memory-stick-that-had-a-virus-on-it....)

Wonder-if-I-can-start-this-week-again...have-I-made-your-week-suddenly-feel-SO-much-better-than-you-thought-it-was..?!

Sue

Academic conference...

An interesting email dropped into my mailbox the other day containing a call for papers for the CIPR's Academic Conference.

I'd strongly recommend that people think about writing up some of their practice - I don't think enough practice papers get put in and some of those that get through are of a variable quality.  It's a rewarding experience and if it advances understanding of our field...

And the email reminded me of one that Sue forwarded me the other week.  A senior leader in a professional association for communicators (I won't say which one) was asking for help.  Only he took five lines of dense verbosity to reach the point - and even then it wasn't clear what he wanted!

I've always felt sorry for people who do PR on behalf of the PR industry (or for that matter HR at the offices of a national HR association!), but you'd hope that a communications professional body at least employed a few people who could construct a sensible message!

A quick question

... for anyone who's done the Black Belt programme.

When you're putting together your CV (which obviously none of you would be doing in the interests of finding another job, because you are all happy and fulfilled with your current employer, but everyone needs an up to date CV, don't they? Just in case.) what do you put on there about Black Belt?

Genuine question someone asked me today, and I wondered what people generally put. This person said if they use 'Black Belt' people think it's something to do with Six Sigma. I know at least some of the headhunters here in the UK recognise it, because one of them has told me before  that they do notice it and see it as a plus point for the candidate concerned.

Anyone happy to share how you and where you reference it on your CV?

Sue

What does really advanced IC look like?

Sue and I were sitting in a bar the other night discussing this subject so what follows may not be as coherent as it sounded at the time.... I was starting a migrane but I don't expect anyone to feel sorry for me!

We have a perenniel problem on Black Belt - we get people from a wide range of backgrounds and with a mix of experience.  And we have to make sure that they all leave with a good experience.  But we've always had a problem helping those people who hope there is a new Holy Grail of IC...

The problem is that I don't think there is one.  When you think about what the "really advanced IC people are doing" it tends to be all about having sound systems, making links with the business startegy and helping leaders to lead. 

That's it. Nothing too radical there is there?

We do spend a lot of time sharing the latest reserach we know about - drawing on a variety of sources including Melcrum's Strategic Reaserach Forum.  and normally, with 20 people in the room, there is someone who can share a new insight into most of the topics we cover.

Yet there does seem to be an insecurity in our craft that we keep hoping to uncover a wholly new perspective on IC.  But I'm coming to the conclusion that there isn't one....

I think that human knowledge moves in small steps for the most part - and occasionally takes big steps forward.  This means that most of us won't see the difference between one small learning and the next.  In fact, the normal state of affairs in any body of knowlege is movement so slow that it makes the average glacier look like it's in overdrive.

If you look at John Smythe's much awaited and excellent new book you'll see that he's still referring to a great deal of the good work that was done by his agency Smythe Dorward Lambert in the 1990's.  Even Isaac Newton was keen to stress that he owed much of his discoveries to other the work of people who went before him - he said that his elevated status was due to the fact that he was standing 'on the shoulders of giants.'

The truth is that in IC, like most branches of human activity, nothing much actually changes that dramatically.  If you think that somewhere someone is doing "really advanced" ninja-level IC you're probably going to be disappointed.

Maybe the advances in New Social Media are going to change the IC game but, for now, the really advanced stuff?  It seems to mean sticking to doing the basics really well in support of clear objectives...

Or am I'm missing something again?

Liam

Living and learning

Today we ran a session on learning styles for a group of communicators. Great fun.  The theorists told us why they loved models and hated 'but what's the point?' exercises. The activists protested that any kind of activity where they got to play and didn't have to listen to long explanations was just fine with them. The reflectors wanted more time to think about it what worked for them. And the pragmatists wanted to know how they could actually apply all this in the workplace.

If you've never done Peter Honey's Learning Styles questionnaire, it's well worth giving it a try. Basically, you answer a series of questions and it tells you how you prefer to learn, and what types of learning are likely to drive you mad or stress you out.

As one participant said today, suddenly it all makes sense why two people can come out of the same activity with one person thinking it was fantastic and the other thinking it was pointless and badly managed. It also helps you realise some people learn better by staying quiet. They're listening, thinking, processing.  They won't thank you for helpfully dragging them into the limelight and insisting that you KNOW they have some fantastic examples to share - right now. Ask them later when they've had time to form an opinion.

Liam and I have different styles (surprise!). Liam's an activist and a theorist. I'm a reflector and a pragmatist. I barely register as having any preference at all for active learning. Back when I was doing my coaching training, the words I absolutely dreaded were 'tag coaching'. One person would sit in the middle of the group, someone would be picked to start coaching them, and then others would be picked at random to run in, tag the current coach and take over. Hmm. Stick me in front of 25 people and make me attempt to use a skill I don't yet possess, with absolutely no chance to prepare. My favourite. I hated it with a passion and practically had to be tipped off my chair to make me do it.

If you don't yet know your preferred learning style, here's a chance to learn something new about yourself. Let us know how you get on.

Sue

PS I have been given the bridal suite in our conference centre! I have a whirlpool bath, fluffy cream chairs, leopard print throws, a gold cupid hanging above my rather large bed, and ... wait for it ... bride and groom teddy bears to keep me company!! Unfortunately somebody seems to have made a start on the champagne in the fridge, but hey, you can't have everything ...

Social Media - business tool or personal communication channel?

As per Sue's intro on me - I'm a real fan of Social Media and a self-confessed Facebook addict, in the past year I've been truly amazed how this tool (and others like it) have created a whole new type of interaction with friends, acquaintances and contacts.

Whilst I probably use Facebook now as much as I used to used mobile textmessaging (thanks to the wonder of the fab new Facebook app launched for blackberry) - e.g. taking a pic then loading it with tags and captions on the spot, as an internal communications professional I'm still waiting to see if this new channel/style of communication holds any opportunities for improving our internal communication within Siemens. Currently my conclusion is that at this stage it really does depend on the demographics of your employee base. Whilst I do know of organisations that are already sucessfully launching internal facebook style sites, my hunch is their employee base is probably predominately generation Y or those core business has a technological slant who are probably fearless with technology and very comfortable with the very different style of interaction Social Media provides.

And so to Siemens.......well despite being an organisation world famous for technological innovation, we are in essence a German engineering company and most of our work-force (with the exception of IT and communication teams) either haven't heard of Facebook, are very untrusting of new generation sites or are just plain skeptics!

January's guest blogger

Our guest blogger for this month is Kirsty Glennie, Internal and On Line Communications Manager for Siemens.

I know Kirsty from Melcrum's Strategic Research Forum and knew she'd be up for blogging for us because she is always so enthusiastic about all things social media. (When I mentioned Facebook last time I saw her she whipped out her phone, found me instantly and sent an invitation. I watched in awe ...).

But for anyone thinking 'oh no, not more about social media', she always has something interesting and constructive to say about lots of other things too ...

Welcome Kirsty!

Sue

Whither social media in 2008?

Happy new year all. Did you have to read the title twice to see whether it said 'wither ...' (will social media slowly disappear this year?) or 'whither ...' (so where's it going next then?). Personally I don't think social media tools are about to shrivel up and die. Actually I was wondering where all this is going in your organisation this year?

After all, what a difference a year makes. This time last year I was, as many of the people turning up on our Black Belt courses still are, a social media cynic. I was 'too old' for Facebook, couldn't see the point of all these blogs just made up of the witterings of people like me and was already information overloaded enough without trying to keep track of this other stuff as well, thanks. I had never watched a YouTube video. In fact, I didn't even know how to use Liam's ipod. (the shame ...)

Meanwhile in the internal comms world, I had seen the Nevilles, Shels, Debbies, IBMs, etc. etc. extol the virtues of social media in every conference I went to. But who was actually using these tools in 'normal' companies whose employees are not all techies? Where were the case studies?

But fastforward a year and now ...

I cheerfully tell my Facebook friends what I'm up to twice a day, am back in touch with friends lost and - shock horror - there are lots of people AS OLD AS ME on there! I find all sorts of interesting stuff about internal comms or related subjects through a leisurely browse through a range of blogs now and again. I have my favourite totally non-work related blogs that keep me entertained. Namely Jeroen's daily HappySad offering and Grace Dent's acidic rantings. I laugh at dancing birds on YouTube.  And yes, I even sing in corners to my ipod.

In the IC world, meanwhile, this stuff actually seems to be coming to life. I hear interesting things about companies developing virtual worlds to entice people into their corporate strategy. I see organisations in traditionally risk-averse environments giving up control and offering every employee their own blog.  I watch field staff being given digicameras to record low cost real life experiences of change, published on line, sent out via mobile phone. It's a whole new world. With great opportunities and, of course, great risks too.

So what's it like in your corner of the world? What are your organisation's plans for social media this year? Or is it still not for you? Go on, if you've never commented on a blog before, make the start of 2008 the first time that you do ...

Sue

PS do read some of the links in this post - Debbie Weil has a great piece on social media in China. There's an interesting post setting out IBM's history in social media. And a good opinion piece about the benefits and risks. Oh, and you'll love the dancing bird ...