Ambition and Curiosity
SteveThere is (yet another) interesting discussion happening on Bill Kutik's HR Technology Conference LinkedIn group about the social media and social networking in the workplace, and the relative pros and cons of the opposite sides of the argument. As is the case in Bill's group, the discussion is intelligent, balanced, and reasonable - unlike what you might find in other forums attempting to discuss these issues.
I haven't weighed in on the discussion on LinkedIn, (sorry, Bill), because I am a selfish blogger and needed some content, and I had a kind of different take on the topic, one that veers slightly away from the practicalities of the debate, and drifts more into the philosophical. I think while the debate about blocking these sites tends to center around data security, productivity, message control, etc.; the real issues (even if companies don't want to admit them), are much more about the ideas or concepts of ambition and curiosity.
Ambition in the sense of aspiration, of becoming something bigger, greater, and more meaningful in whatever measures that are relevant to the organization. Curious in the framework of inspiring interest, discovery, or of seeking and (hopefully) finding new meanings, connections, and ideas.
It seems, at least on the surface, that organizations that have moved to actively block or restrict access to social networks and internet based productivity services using the practical and typical concerns about security and the like are quite possibly betraying a lack of ambition and curiosity. Sure, no organization or leader would admit to this, no one would flat-out state, 'Our firm has limited goals for future growth and innovation, and we are not terribly interested about what is happening with out competitors, customers, partners, and community.'
Of course no leader would admit that, since even if it were true, the admission would send share prices plummeting, drive smart and talented employees for the exits (or at least to LinkedIn to update their profiles), and drive a stake in employee enthusiasm and morale. Sure, the connection between open, unrestricted, and organizationally supported access and engagement on social networks to improved business outcomes is, for now, still spotty, sporadic and tangential. It is still difficult for social media proponents and aficionados to clearly articulate their arguments when faced with the security and 'not important to the tasks at hand' talking points.
But what the reluctant or skeptical are more easily convinced of, is that the threats to their empires and their livelihoods are likely to come from new competitors. Ones that are smaller, more nimble, more adaptable; and by necessity are forces to avail themselves of all possible resources, full access and exploitation of social network connections certainly chief among them.
Small, aggressive, and dangerous start-ups don't worry about 'time-wasting', and they are willing to accept whatever security risks may arise from the social web - happy to trade off some level of risk for the vast benefit they see and can derive from these networks.
Now that we are into 'beating a dead horse' territory, I will close with this - the organizations that are taking over today, and will dominate tomorrow, have a wide, broad, and expansive view of the world. And they realize the world does not solely consist of their own employees, and the relationships they share with each other.
Great ideas are everywhere, if your eyes and ears are open to find them.
Reader Comments (5)
Right on Steve. True leaders are embracing where the world is moving too, not clinging to their favorite rotary dial phone and black and white tv. Now please excuse me...I have to get up and change the channel...
Moving this reluctance to embrace new technology and/or social media down to the individual level, I think what you’ve outlined remains true – many times those individuals (be they HR professionals or others) use the same sort of ‘easy’ arguments their companies use (security, privacy, time, etc). But in my estimation, in the individual case, it often comes back to what I would classify as the same lack of curiosity, ambition and aspiration to learn, grow and develop a new set of skills. So since Sally HR doesn’t want to personally delve into this brave new world, she goes right along with her company’s IT Department and/or Leadership Team when they decide to block access, etc. Complacent HR professionals? Hmmmm… you think?
Gawd, Steve, we need you in that discussion on the HR Technology Conference group on LinkedIn. I find it one of the more boring and tedious ones we've hosted in our 15 months. I mean corporations have freaked out about every new communications medium brought into their four walls. The telephone?!? Only senior execs got one at first cause their juniors could't be trusted not to waste time with it. Or, gasp!, might call their friends.
Same with e-mail, where HR fretted some employee would write something inappropriate to the CEO, forgetting at the time that the CEO had his "girl" print out all the messages and censor them before his handwritten comments.
So what's new? Time simply makes everybody less frightened.
Your comments here will turn it in a decidedly more interesting and valuable direction. What's with your reluctance? Are you shy, or worse, a wuss? Go over their right now and post your blog as a comment. Link or cut and paste it in. You've done it before -- thank you very much -- as a discussion. There are 4,000 folks over there eager to read what you have you to day.
Oh, and thanks for the link.
@Jay - Thanks very much Jay - I remember getting up to change the channel as well!
@Robin I think you are right, I have been thinking a lot about this lately, and even in a more broad context that if I can stay awake after the show tonight will post about tomorrow.
@Bill - Thanks! I decided to post here since I knew my comments would be kind of long, and I also have some misguided notion about posting regularly here. I will drop in a link to the convo on your group. That LI group is consistently the best discussion and information in my little world on LinkedIn.
I think there are many important points to consider in this post. The threats to their empires and their livelihoods are likely to come from new competitors. Ones that are smaller, more nimble, more adaptable; and by necessity are forces to avail themselves of all possible resources, full access and exploitation of social network connections certainly chief among them. Creativity has the ability, when incorporated appropriately, to establish quite a competitive advantage. Thanks for nice post..
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