Updates:

• There has been little change to my overall “second” career. I have applied to a couple of positions that I feel fit my interest and passions but have not heard back from any of them. I have had a couple of positions that have reached out to me via resume reviews. Those opportunities (some good, some not so good) are something that I know I could do, but really don’t fit what I want to do with my “second” career. So, instead of wasting time – passed on those. I hope that I am not being too picky, but selective enough to make sure that I will be happy and successful. The one big disappointment in all of this is the total lack of communications on the hiring side. You get the automated message – “we got your stuff” and after that – the black hole. If you have hired, some automated message would be great back saying – done. Makes me not want to work for any company that does not treat people better than that. I know there are probably thousands of resumes sent in on any job, but not communicating back – seems like a missed opportunity.
• I am still doing some volunteer work. I have already accepted a director position with AZ4Education. I will be helping out with marketing, scholarship fund raising and awarding scholarships to needed students. I also am helping one of the elementary schools navigate their way through social media. Haley Elementary was given the okay by the district to go ahead and jump into Facebook and such. So, I am helping the principal and administrative staff with getting this kicked off. I am waiting for the final acceptance on the fingerprinting in order to help out with Valley Big Brothers, Big Sisters. Should happen soon!
• Lastly, from those that follow my twitter @stevebellnow – you all know that I had some minor surgery to my knee. Torn meniscus needed some clean up! I don’t have any great story on how it happened, sorry. I just completed my first week after surgery and have to say that everything is going well.

I think that monthly will continue to be the cadence for updates… Until my “second” career begins. Then I can really start to share some great stuff. Thanks for reading…

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When I think of social media tools and capabilities for the enterprise, I am thinking about better communication and collaboration capabilities. What are the important factors that your enterprise is trying to accomplish? Global company trying to improve collaboration within the team? Knowledge capture and management? Better communications? Finding experts? Cool new tools that others are using? What is it that makes you want to change what you are doing today? Get your answer(s)… Since this is not “new” anymore – there is plenty of information (and suppliers) to help.

Here are the items that I believe need to be done to make this transition successful…

• Pull in your HR, IT and business unit teams to spend the right amount of time drafting and finalizing your social media policies. Nothing worse than going down to the path of implementation and then being hit with the IT Security or HR policies roadblocks. They are there – just include them right off the bat.
• Make sure that you are looking at tools and capabilities that integrate together. Don’t be looking for another stand alone solution. Of course, don’t be looking at that potential one-size fits all model either. Look for a platform that you can build on. You can add “best in class” solutions or the platform supplier does. Either way – you win!
• Gauge how supportive your senior management team is with this endeavor. Are they receptive to changing how things get done? Do they feel okay with more challenging of the status quo? How thick is their skin? How about the ROI monkey? Leaders are supposed to removed roadblocks, but sometimes they like to leave the speed bumps in.
• Start small and move fast. Goes back to an earlier comment. Don’t try to find the one-size fits all. Making a huge change will not go over well. Start small, start with the capabilities that are most often lacking (by listening to the user base). Get that in, make it work, make it fit within the normal workflow and go fast.
• Take advantage of the “evangelists!” You know, the folks that jump at a chance to use “new” capabilities, that adopt early and really see how to make things work. Get them from the individual departments to help train and communicate success.
• Stay your course. It is too easy to get distracted by upper management, a shiny “new” capability or feel progress is moving slower than you want. Once more people get into using and adopting these tools the better off your company will be – you will see.

I know this is not new to many folks… Those folks and I have had plenty of war-story discussions together. I felt like I had to take that interview question and writing it down – As I thought I gave a pretty good (not 100% – did not mention suppliers) complete answer.

I got to listen to plenty of challenges from each group that I have worked with. They basically came down to the following statements:

• There is no consistent way to capture information or content.
• There are lots of tools to use, which one is best for me? Or my team?
• I have too many distractions today; meetings that fill up my complete calendar, emails that just go on and on, instant messages and every once and awhile the phone will ring.
• Social computing is not work… It is social… (I guess that is why using Enterprise 2.0 saves you from having to listen to social computing confusion)

To help the teams understand better what is meant by this I found that Terry Starbucker’s 7 Essential Truths About Social Media very helpful. For the internal purposes I used and/or modified about 5 of them – fitting the audience that I was dealing with.

• It’s not a “strategy” (it’s just a tool to communicate)
• It’s not going to fix all that ails your business units problems (no silver bullets)
• It will open up your world (just have to be open to making changes)
• It will expose some basic communication weaknesses (so, be careful when you jump in).
• It’s not going away (so, learn how to use it).

Usually after going over these truths and the examples that fit each one of them I can assess if this particular team is going to be resptive to making the necessary changes and work needed to be successful using the tools at their disposal. The other day, I was blessed with a quote from the team manager that just blew me away. “We are too busy with work, to work on reducing our workload.” I kid you not! Making changes take time and effort (work). I am willing to help, but I can not be the one that does it all… Almost all of the team needs to be a change agent to make this work. Not everyone, there will always be nay-sayers, but once they see how successful this is making the others or truly reducing their workload – they will come around, they always do. Just need a group that is willing to learn, open their eyes to dream how things could be and then work towards that dream.

Success rate overall, is still coming in. This takes time! Time to get moving, time to keep moving and getting the desired results that the team is looking for. I right now, have to say – this has been about a 50/50 split! My first months of starts, were with everyone that came knocking for help. The second month, I am only taking on those that are willing to give it a serious go. So, maybe my success rate will go up. I only have one month left – so, it better!

I do still love that title! I really enjoy the role… Maybe I can continue this role someplace else soon.

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Last night, I was busy preparing for the next day drive to the office… Had to set the alarm clock – now that one hurt a bit. Not that I slept in late and did nothing the whole time.. But, I did not have to hear that annoying sound of an alarm. My internal clock told me when to get up. I had to gather up all of my work belongings. You know put the laptop back in the bag, insure that the AC adaptor was in the bag and all of the other office items I brought home (over the 3 other sabbaticals – I have had a few items come up missing from the old desk). Since I had not seen my badge in 9 weeks – it was a bit hard to remember where I last put it (found it in the glove box of the car).

I woke up bright and early – too early! I must have been excited to get back at it. 9 weeks is a long time. I was really looking forward to the drive in, getting to see my cubicle farm mates and get started earning my paycheck. I am so glad that I wrote down my laptop password, because if I had to remember it – I know I would be calling into the help desk for a password reset. Once logged in, I got my usual IT updates from all of the time I was off. After 30 minutes or so and a reboot. I was off to opening up email. I wondered how many I would have. I guess about 5 thousand! Well, I was off by 100%. 10K emails were in the inbox. Spent most of the morning deleting!

From time to time, I had folks stop by and get caught up on the doings of my sabbatical. I got caught up on what I missed while I was out. Office environments are way cool sometimes. For those folks that were not physically in the office – I got some instant messages (just happened to see you logged in – you back? – of course, why else would I be logged in).Got some more emails – just like the IM’s. 

What all did I actually get done. Well, the inbox is under 125 unopened. Deleted a bunch, answered some and filed the rest. Should be all back to speed in a couple of days. Had some great discussions with folks. Touched base with many others. Some even told me they read my personal blog to stay up on my happenings. Read plenty of material on the internal professional networking (blogs, forums, wiki) tool to get up to speed on other items that are important to me.

Definitely a long and tiring (but exciting) day!

Everything that we have internally, is due in late part of her efforts and leadership. Having been so close, I completely understand how hard this effort has been. She has had to move mountains. The hurdles that this program has had to jump through have been big. Laurie has done this, with a smile and a can do attitude. I just hope that the next person can keep the torch going.

Laurie – here is my big thank-you to you personally for a job that has been difficult, but you have really done well. The direction is set. Thanks. I am also taking this opportunity to wish you well in the future.