Socialising Strategy (or Socializing strategy)
We talk about communicating strategy and strategy communication, but with all the emphasise on social networking, Facebook, Linkedin, Bebo, Plaxo, etc etc the phase on every one's lips is "Social networking".
So how does this apply to strategy?
Well lets start with the phrase "Socialising strategy" (Or "socializing strategy" for our US cousins). Its interesting how this immediately puts a different emphasise on what is happening. It is no longer about getting the message out (Communicating). It is about the social impact and the conversation within groups, and amongst people, about the strategy.
Socialising strategy suggests that the strategy becomes part of a conversation amongst people that has a life of its own. Individuals are owning a part of it, talking to each other about it and adopting and adapting what it means for them.
Socialising strategy also suggests that it becomes part of the social fabric. It is part of the way people work, what they do, what they say, how they behave, and what they believe.
Socialising strategy suggests it has a life of its own amongst those people.
It is interesting how this phrase seems to convey so much more that communicating strategy. It also gets beyond the glib phrase "Culture" to a far more specific meaning than, "We want our strategy to reflect our culture" or "We want our culture to drive our strategy" With "socialising strategy" we are describing how it becomes a part of the way people work and think and behave.
It is also a more explicit instruction to management. Rather than suggesting managers need to "Communicate the strategy" (which is an action for them), they are responsible for "socialising the strategy" which is a response from other people. In other words, instructing a management team to "Socialise their strategy" means that the emphasise is not just on communication, but on how people respond to the communication and behave as a result.
So here are some questions.
1) Have you been socialising your strategy?
2) Is your strategy socialised?
3) What will you see and experience if your strategy is socialised?
4) What do you have to do to socialise your strategy?
Phil Jones
Author
Communicating Strategy
So how does this apply to strategy?
Well lets start with the phrase "Socialising strategy" (Or "socializing strategy" for our US cousins). Its interesting how this immediately puts a different emphasise on what is happening. It is no longer about getting the message out (Communicating). It is about the social impact and the conversation within groups, and amongst people, about the strategy.
Socialising strategy suggests that the strategy becomes part of a conversation amongst people that has a life of its own. Individuals are owning a part of it, talking to each other about it and adopting and adapting what it means for them.
Socialising strategy also suggests that it becomes part of the social fabric. It is part of the way people work, what they do, what they say, how they behave, and what they believe.
Socialising strategy suggests it has a life of its own amongst those people.
It is interesting how this phrase seems to convey so much more that communicating strategy. It also gets beyond the glib phrase "Culture" to a far more specific meaning than, "We want our strategy to reflect our culture" or "We want our culture to drive our strategy" With "socialising strategy" we are describing how it becomes a part of the way people work and think and behave.
It is also a more explicit instruction to management. Rather than suggesting managers need to "Communicate the strategy" (which is an action for them), they are responsible for "socialising the strategy" which is a response from other people. In other words, instructing a management team to "Socialise their strategy" means that the emphasise is not just on communication, but on how people respond to the communication and behave as a result.
So here are some questions.
1) Have you been socialising your strategy?
2) Is your strategy socialised?
3) What will you see and experience if your strategy is socialised?
4) What do you have to do to socialise your strategy?
Phil Jones
Author
Communicating Strategy
Labels: Communicating strategy, Communication skills for managers and directors, social networking, socialising strategy, socializing strategy, strategy and culture, strategy communication
posted by Phil Jones at
23:53
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