Mark Britz explores three engagement categories that move beyond 'technical' organisational network analysis (i.e. identifying nodes), to explore social health. I love the range of wonderful questions this idea opens up to explore further. I like Mark's idea of social health, the data and insights from which might inform and support additional organisational health data points, as part of a broader approach to People Analytics.

Simon Terry talks about the role of Working Out Loud (WOL) in building, sharing and translating (tacit) knowledge in remote teams. 

He reinforces the need for multiple tools/channels and approaches, including Enterprise Social Networks (ESNs), coaching, debriefing etc. 

These highlight the additional challenge of making workplace learning intentional when people are working remotely. I also see huge opportunity and need for leaders/executives to model WOL and to leverage tools like the ESN to extend their reach and to promote transparency in a time when they are less visible/accessible. 

Further guidance on the role of intranets, community and community leadership through a crisis

'If people don't share on Yammer/ESN, if execs don't engage, if people aren't talking to each other - the problem is with people, not the technology'.

This article pulls apart a single quote from Simon Terry, to create a rich picture of how people can WOL and create value through ESNs. Simon's quote is:

“Sharing work as it develops enables you to reflect on your work. It brings stakeholders into work early to provide feedback and assistance. It encourages you to be purposeful and effective in your work. Importantly it also enables others to develop a passive awareness of your work progress and to learn from how you do your work.”

The role of the CEO in ESNs

An excellent review and further exploration of the concepts explored in the book, 'Social Technologies in Business'. My own short review - 

‘To get digital, you need to be digital’ says @AndrewGrill in this lovely book that brings together the shared ideas and experiences of a group of global thought leaders and practitioners, including Australia’s Simon Terry (@simongterry) and Rita Zonius (@RitaZonius), who first connected and now continue to work out loud (#WOL) together using social technology. The four chapters (Ideas, Tools, Methods, Case Studies) can be explored independently or in sequence and contain easily digestible chunks, key idea summaries and useful quotes. The book is a call to action for practitioners. We need to experiment with, role model and ‘be digital’ for our own benefit, if we are to enable and support our organisations to realise the potential of social. Following and engaging with the authors of this book through Twitter and LinkedIn is an easy and exciting way to take the themes raised in this book further and continue the conversation.

A great article to help senior leaders/execs understand the shift to the social enterprise and to open up dialogue around the fears, assumptions and desire to control that are holding them and the organisation back. 

'Social is one of those things that if you don’t do, you don’t get. And if leaders are not professionally socially active, you will never get a social organisation'.

Simon Terry discusses the role of Enterprise Social Networks (ESNs) in a crisis. Terry speaks to Yammer, but the points apply to any ESN. I particularly like the emphasis on 'context'. ESNs allow leaders to extend their reach and be more visible, transparent and human in a crisis. This can help respond to people's heightened desire for certainty (ESN supporting continuous clarity) and relatedness (the ESN helping build connections, shared context/purpose and drive collaboration/knowledge sharing across boundaries and at speed). 

Unpacking the elements and enablers of value/meaning/sense making conversations online. 

This video explains how thew Red Cross are using online communities (and AI) to help people connect and build and share knowledge at speed. The first section explains the AI/Chat Bot. Watch from 59 secs to see the piece on online communities. It includes some simple use cases that demonstrate the difference/benefits of communities vs. email. 

This video highlights the important role ESNs and a culture of sharing generously play in helping connect people with others or information that will trigger or build on their own ideas. 

'Chance favours the connected mind'

A good series of videos by Scott Ward supporting healthy and diverse ESNs that create value:

1.1 Diversity of Interests

1.2 Tagging topics and people - https://vimeo.com/266665814

1.3 Group Use - https://vimeo.com/266846232

1.4 Running online events - https://vimeo.com/266848128

1.5 Diversity of media types - https://vimeo.com/266849237

The value of ESNs and virtual communities is measured by the business outcomes, not 'activity'. Communities thrive when they are purpose driven. Their purpose also defines what success looks look and tells us what we will measure. I find it easier to define purpose and business outcomes at a community level. If you look ESN wide, then the purpose and business outcomes are quite broad/general (engagement, innovation, knowledge, talent). You need both, but a small group of people with a specific problem to solve provides real clarity of purpose and focus. These stories can be easier to tell and more compelling than selling the value of an enterprise wide platform. 

I don't know where to start with this wonderful talk by Celine Schillinger. You can watch this video for inspiration around talent and diversity. You can draw wonderful insights around the value of shared purpose and connection, for breaking down silos and giving people a voice and an opportunity to contribute to something bigger than themselves. You can watch it to see the potential for working out loud across networks through technology. Celine also reinforces the need for persistence and continuous learning as tools for adapting to a changing world. 

Great illustrations and flow demonstrating the case for ESNs

Key questions for scoping any community (irrespective of the technology you might use)