Contribution and Connection are the New Currency

People are no longer a company's best asset, they are its best technology.

Is it time perhaps to rename human resources something like human resourceful? I was reading the McKinsey Quarterly article about making Web 2.0 tools work (guess they didn't get the memo about the end of the term Web 2.0). In it the authors talk about a wide range of technologies.

I beg to differ on the terminology, I think they mean tools.

Technologies may enable tools and they exist on two sides of them. The application/tool platform side and that of the human using it. A dry system and a wet system (the brain). These new tools are built with the user in mind instead of the task - ERP, CRM anyone?

They are developed and designed to assist people in doing what they do naturally - connect and collaborate. Most of these tools are imperfect - are doing nothing - until people contribute to them. Then they become interesting. You will need to watch out for the unexpected forming of groups and potentially engaging participation.

Those are the risks that come with the messy system that we call humans.

The authors discuss six ways for managers to unlock participation:

1. Setting the tone from the top
2. Helping users select the tools and supporting them
3. Making them a daily habit, part of the workflow
4. Spreading some "link love" - that is recognizing the work
5. Having the right people on the bus
6. Balancing policy with self-regulation

If you, like me, are looking at these six points and thinking you've seen them before, it's because you have. These are (or should be) the characteristics of a modern organization, one that places the attention on people and team work.

For many years we probably paid lip service to implementing those ideas. Now we are looking at them through a new lens - contribution and connection are the new currency and a competitive advantage. Everything moves way too fast for us to go it alone anymore.

If you look at any kind of people system, substitute managers for influentials, or A-listers, or leaders, what do you find? Just curious.

Comments

[Adam Singer]

"I beg to differ on the terminology, I think they mean tools."

Yes, exactly. Terminology in emerging industries is debated on, discussed, and used to death. I'm guilty too I am sure.

Less focus on terminology, more focus on action and purpose would do us all good :)

[kare anderson]

To encourage collaboration I'd add
(from what worked in the teams on which I participated in the Obama campaign):
give people specific methods/behaviors
(as Vital Conversations authors also suggest) by which to collaborate and recognize and reward the results.

Some include:
• form teams by speaking to the sweet spot
of mutual benefit for the participants
• agree on one top/actionable goal
• agree on rules of engagement
• recognize the specific talent/experience of each team player as it relates to the team goal
• agree on a facilitator/leader
• have a time table
• agree to respectfully and candidly disagree
• stick to the thread of conversation when meeting...

[Karen Hegmann]

Valeria

Using technology as an analogy, I think the best run organizations resemble a set of hyperlinks where each employee's voice is valued. Everyone is connected to everyone else - and each opinion matters.

Digital media and technology have as their basis narrative structures that allow for conversation that is both meaningful and interactive. What is often viewed as structured is actually quite complex and allows for interaction from a variety of people at a variety of levels.

So, you're right. People are a company's best technology. The systems are just the vehicles needed to give us access to the corporate "machine."

[Susan]

Valeria, I must thank you for this post. It is so timely for me and if you don't mind, I'm going to use it to build my relationship with my IT department. I had a great meeting with them today regarding how communications and IT, when partnering, are a force to be reckoned with when it comes to internal business ambassadors, educating the businesses, proactively sharing success stories on business projects (b/c in my world, IT is always a part of the business projects), etc. The IT team was very supportive in proactively and publicly partnering, and taking a lead role in some of the activities you describe in your post. Lead by example, so to speak.

[Valeria Maltoni]

@Adam - I'm a big fan of your work, so your focus is probably well balanced. We both know that people like to talk about how they do what they do as well. There is a place for explaining terminology and technology talk.

@Kare - terrific contribution to the discussion, thank you. I especially like "agree on top actionable item" and "agree on rules of engagement". Both very important.

@Karen - thank you for putting it so well succinctly. I see those links as energized conversations. This is so vital to help create at this moment in time and history.

@Susan - glad to be of service. Do let me know how it goes. I work at an IT infrastructure services company and the experience has been illuminating to this kind of insight.

[Angela Maiers]

Valeria-
I am a big fan of your work, and this is a great post! Networks have changed how we learn, how we share, and how we grow.

It is such a timely conversation for me as I am sharing with educators to think differently about what we promote in schools. We must address questions like:

If connections and contributions are the new currency ( and I believe they are), how are we preparing students to thoughtfully build, manage, and leverage this "new currency?"

If learners will be expected to share their ideas with others and have others share their ideas with them- how are you creating opportunities for your learners to share?

Thank you for giving me more fuel for the conversation! You are great!