Social media has change the way we communicate. We don’t consider when we post something, it is really one way communication. We don’t consider that we have become our own media outlet, much like a newspaper or TV news show. We are all broadcasters now.
But broadcasters are not the same as communicators. True communication is two-way. We speak and listen.
Blogging, tweeting and Facebook posts are fine. But we need to remember true communication is a different entity.
If there are any institutions that should excel at social media, it is the church across North America. Each one could be a potential publishing powerhouse because of several reasons:
Last week, I was surprised to find the local coffee spot was closed at 6:00 PM. It is supposed to be open until 9:00 PM. There was no sign, just a dark storefront. So I sent the following tweet:
When your @Kroger @Starbucks is closed at 6 PM. #mourning #notpossible #smalltownproblems
— Kevin Spear (@KevinHSpear) November 1, 2016
The reason I sent it wasn’t because I was upset. It was partly because this wasn’t the first time this Starbucks storefront had been closed. Once it was in the middle of the afternoon for a water problem. Also, it was partly because I was curious how these two companies I like and value would respond. How did they respond? Cue the crickets, please. That’s right, I got no response. No apology. No acknowledgment. Life went on. My wife and I went back to the church, I found a Keurig pod and we enjoyed a little caffeine on a
And how did they respond? Cue the crickets, please. That’s right, I got no response. No apology. No acknowledgment. Life went on. My wife and I went back to the church, I found a Keurig pod and we enjoyed a little caffeine on a fine fall evening.
This morning, I read this Inc. Article on making change happen within a company.
Change Is Hard: 8 Great Ways to Make Sure You’re Constantly Evolving – Inc.
I have witnessed how hard change is at a newer as well as older company. And I have also had the privilege working for a company where change was the only thing constant. All the companies I’ve worked for wanted change but discovered pushback from customers as well as employees. It is ironic that the very change that will benefit customers can be rejected by those same consumers.
Whether you are a leader or follower, change is vital for companies and people to thrive. As the article says, it begins with you. It also takes lots of clear communication to explain why the change is needed and how it will benefit stakeholders in the long run.
One thing the article touched on was how the messy middle affects change. We talked about that in one of my MBA classes. A change initiative feels exciting in the beginning. But when you are in the middle of the change, it is so tempting to go back to the old ways. It takes a lot of determination, self-examination, and clear communication to make change happen.
An Inc. Magazine video struck a chord with me. It is a video interview with Shabnam Mogharabi of Soul Pancake.
Why Social Media Is Not a One-Way Street for Brands – Inc.
Time and time again, I have seen companies that believe they have something important to say and focus on getting their message out there. It is one-way communication. It is a broadcast approach. It is what advertising has traditionally been.