Ideology - Latest Comments

Re: Competency

Megan Murray — Sat, 10 Jul 2010 16:31:35 -0000

Thanks Synistema, I'd say you're right.
Generally we're talking about humans and change. From subject to subject we’ll run into similar challenges. We latch onto terms and spend a lot of time debating them. Our industry words tend to lose context by the time they hit the ears of the folks we are trying to shepherd into a new spot. As someone doing the detail work I find it really helpful to pull my head out of the echo chamber and map out specifics translated to the language of the user.

Re: Competency

Synistema — Fri, 09 Jul 2010 13:03:55 -0000

Great stuff, really! brilliant and straight to the point on the delicate responsibility/accountability issues. But I had a flash: isn't this exactly the very same stuff that the "guys with a vision" were telling managers back in the days of ERP-moving? In other words, issues, resistance, the problem of "selling", "I need a ROI", slow take-up, and similar stuff basically tell how hard it is for people and corporations to react to change, don't they?
Different environment, I reckon, but we might get inspiration from those experiences, possibly to avoid mistakes (and costs!) of the past.

Re: Healthy tension, evolution and #e2conf

Megan Murray — Fri, 25 Jun 2010 21:07:19 -0000

Or, pony up the goods and I'll avoid responding with "dance monkey!" Brilliant Chris.

Re: Healthy tension, evolution and #e2conf

Chris Yeh — Fri, 25 Jun 2010 20:20:35 -0000

Vendors need to follow the Gladiator Principle..."Are you not entertained?"

Just because you've delivered your talking points doesn't mean that you've made an impact. Buying a keynote is like buying a Superbowl commercial--yeah, you've got a big audience, but they're as likely to mock you as support you. Money gets you in front of people, but it's up to you to tell a story worth hearing.

Re: Healthy tension, evolution and #e2conf

Rick Ladd — Thu, 24 Jun 2010 23:18:11 -0000

As long as we can charge an arm and a leg for it . . . why not?

Re: Healthy tension, evolution and #e2conf

Megan Murray — Thu, 24 Jun 2010 22:56:32 -0000

Gia Lyons you are my new Super Heroine. I foresee adventures ahead for certain. Knock on wood. (It's Aimee, Amy? Ami?... hee)

I loved what Stowe did in NYC. I felt like the vendors did a great job of maximizing their time and aligning the messages with the overall tone of the event. Well crafted multimedia can quickly reach wide audiences in a profoundly personal way. Often more reliably than even the savviest speaker.

I also love the idea of shaking things up in general, getting the audience to participate (this is about collaboration right?) and simply trying new things. When anyone has the guts to stir things up I'll return the favor with the energy to check it out.

Re: Healthy tension, evolution and #e2conf

Megan Murray — Thu, 24 Jun 2010 22:38:52 -0000

I think we could offer up a Vendor 2.0 workshop. Whad'da ya think Rick?

Re: Healthy tension, evolution and #e2conf

Megan Murray — Thu, 24 Jun 2010 22:37:25 -0000

Love your points Mary. For me there's usually a seesaw of too much/not enough when it comes to the demos in tech conferences. If they just talk I think "wow it must be vaporware" and if they show too much I've seen it all before. The pitch seems part of the fabric, though some are much better than others. Perspective is 9/10ths when it comes to the eclipse of sliced bread right? ;) It's tough balance to strike.
As long as we keep on offering up specifics they'll have what they need to move things forward. Great stuff. Thanks!

Re: Healthy tension, evolution and #e2conf

Rick Ladd — Thu, 24 Jun 2010 13:18:22 -0000

I have to agree with Mary here. I see no reason why the presenters who represent products or services can't engage with the audience in creating some level of interactive, participatory development with an eye toward resolving or addressing a well-known issue or exploring the efficacy of a desirable feature. I thought JP's approach was particularly imaginative, though I don't think he was selling anything other than his ideas.

Nevertheless, vendors could benefit from the same sort of engagement, interacting with the audience while at the same time showing off their stuff - at least enough to be a useful hook (provided, of course, they really have one in the first place) that creates the itch all salespeeps yearn after.

At the same time, as Mary suggests, some keynotes shouldn't be about product at all . . . at least, not about selling it.

Re: Healthy tension, evolution and #e2conf

VMaryAbraham — Thu, 24 Jun 2010 10:20:32 -0000

Megan -

Thanks for initiating this conversation. We're all grown-ups and this is business, so you're right to say that the vendor sponsor keynotes may be an unavoidable fact of conference life. I'd suggest that if the vendors are serious about getting their money's worth out of their sponsorship dollars, then they should make those keynotes count. By this I mean, don't do anything that invites your audience to tune out or step out of the room. Rather, keep them engaged.

What does this mean in practice? No demos or sales pitches unless what you're showing us is truly the greatest thing since sliced bread. Focus on an issue you and your company are passionate about and try to strike a similar passion in the hearts of your audience. Take advantage of the bully pulpit to present thought-provoking ideas for fixing the present reality or preparing for a better future. In other words, use the keynote sessions to demonstrate your bona fides as industry thought-leaders rather than late night infomercial presenters.

At the end of the day, a keynote address should not be something we merely endure. It should be something that teaches, provokes further thought, and invites wider conversation and action.

- Mary

Re: Healthy tension, evolution and #e2conf

Gia Lyons — Thu, 24 Jun 2010 09:52:44 -0000

First, I want to say that I fell in love with you in Boston last week. The bonding over Rob Zombie's pants was extra special. I love these conferences, because it allows me to form these kinds of relationships, and better, sustain them year over year (just ask Claire. ;)

Second, I think we vendors should do what Stowe Boyd did in his April 2010 Social Business Edge Conference. Produce video commercials that are aired at points throughout the keynotes (I hope my Marketing peeps aren't reading this. ;) This puts we vendors in the proper context with the Enterprise 2.0 content, and forces us to form a compelling, tight message that doesn't drone on and on and turns into, "let me show you our product" which leads to, "please pass me a sharp stick OMG this is painful"...

These commercials should come in many flavors, perhaps one each that answer the following questions, from practitioners' point of view:

1. What's your vision/roadmap?
2. How are my peers using your solutions today? Use cases and testimonials, please.
3. What's the typical timeline to success with your solutions? Case studies, perhaps.
4. What do you have that the others don't? e.g., inexpensive strategy consulting as part of the package, unique features or points of view, etc.
5. What is available today, and what is available in 6 months?

Re: Healthy tension, evolution and #e2conf

Gia Lyons — Thu, 24 Jun 2010 09:52:38 -0000

dupe

Re: The ebb and flow of lasting change.

Mark Fidelman — Sun, 09 May 2010 20:29:14 -0000

Megan, having implemented 20+ enterprise wide initiatives myself, I can say with certainty that when humans are involved, change is difficult. You will experience resistance, and adoption is difficult. Changing behavior is one of the most difficult things to do in business.
There have been three primary reason I've seen for successful enterprise implementations and adoption. First, involved some type of psychological currency and recognition system. The second involved companies in a state of panic where anyone who wasn't on board with change felt their job was in jeopardy. Third, a single champion with high charisma and leadership skills. Everyone wanted to get behind them and be a part of a successful project. I am sure there are more, but these stand out in my mind.