Author Howard Rheingold shared an intriguing definition of “social capital” in a video he posted recently. (I don’t know if it’s new or original, but I had not heard it previously.)
the ease with which people can get things done without going through institutions
Among the things that increasingly fall into that category – substantial chunks of our jobs. In some bureaucratic organizations, workers find themselves subverting management simply to do what they’re being paid to do as effectively as they can.
Have you:
- searched the Internet instead of the stagnant corporate library,
- Tweeted a colleague you trust for coaching on a task rather than asking for direction from a manager you don’t trust,
- used a software tool installed on your phone because the one on your desktop computer was less effective,
- Googled your company and found customer feedback that dispelled the assumptions held by your leaders – and suggested that your organization consider a new tactic or ditch an old one?
An observation: None of these uses of social media tools constitutes goofing off. So, why are they treated as such?
