1. Topic Idea

2. Key Points

  - It's all about TRUST. Being open to two-way conversations means being open to criticism, allowing other people to influence your work, and sharing in multi-directional ways.

- Conversations are taking place whether or not we choose to pay attention.

- No communications endeavour is risk free. We need to assess how we think about error and embrace mistakes as learning opportunities.

- SM will never replace formal communications mechanisms, but it can complement them. The field is always evolving.

- What about other methods of consultation? SM is not the only way.

- Show people the impact they can have. "If I spend a moment to tell you what I think, what is going to happen with that? How does this affect the process?"

- Do not apply old rules to a new tool.

- Is online voting the polar opposite of a social network? You get concensus. Hard to identify the prevailing wisdom on Twitter. How do you get consensus with SM? Get clear feedback?

- Has accountability come at the cost of transparency? Because everyone is accountable for what they do, no one wants to do anything?

- The powers that be want to follow established precedent, not break new ground.

- Information is growing exponentially. How do we filter information? How do we take action based on impressions garnered from SM conversations?

3. Takeaways

- Perhaps the key to getting people engaged is understanding ppl's strengths and showing them how a culture change can amplify and express their strengths.

- Always be prepared to field the questions: why? what's in it for me?

4. Next Steps/Action Items

Education

Select a tool for the purpose; don't try to apply a purpose to a tool.

Unblock SM resources

Be careful not to invest to heavily in Twitter. Invest in culture change.

Check out IDENTI.CA

Notetaking - by @Cedgell

Overlap with other topic – D

SM is great... gov’t should get in... but getting info from ppl is hard

Comfort with idea of posting docs – open to criticism, editing? My work?

Customers talking back is scary – Natasha (Virtual eye see)

How do we explain this to ppl?

TRUST

It’s ok to do something stupid. – Dan Blouin

Ppl who take risks get crapped on. Never rewarded. Needs a departmental champion. Pay grade hierarchal issue?

No comms endeavour is risk free. What happens when you screw up with SM is the same as saying something wrong to the National Post. But easier to correct. More understanding audience? – Dan

Comms regarded as push-out medium, not a conversation. Look at it like a WATERCOOLER. Discuss both pos and neg, it’s ok. – Natasha

LISTEN first. CONVERSATIONS ARE HAPPENING WHETHER OR NOT YOU ARE PAYING ATTENTION. YouTube, Twitter, etc. – Tamey McIntosh

Larry – where are we going with this? Mechanisms have to baked into the thinking. What is the benefit of free flow conversation, from a gov’t POV? Will SM ever work with open web users? – larry evote.ca

SM will never replace formal comms, or committees, or whatever. – Dan

Bring the pub conversations into the light. Just another way to get info.

It’s in the comms policy. Let’s apply our ideas?

What about other types of consultation? Not just SM – Larry

People are very busy. Use SM beyond chatter. Promote other methods of consultation? Allow ppl to contribute on their own terms. – Natasha

If I spend a moment to tell you waht I think, what is going to happen with that? How does this affect the process? – Larry

 It's a trial and error thing. "it's ok if it doesn't work, but you won't know until you try it." It doesn't cost money. Not like a TV ad, where you shell out $$ and then cross your fingers. WOW. - Tamey

Approval process undermines the ideals of the Wiki. Applying old rules to a new tool. - Cedgell

Not from all departments. Easy to beg forgiveness? NO - Dna

Online voting is the polar opposite of a social network. You get concensus. Hard to know what the prevailing wisdom on twitter is. How do you get consensus with SM? Get clear feedback? - Larry

For different purposes. - Dan

You don't use a hammer to paint. You need to define your purpose and then select the best tool. Don't pick a tool and try to make it suit your goals. - Chelsea and Natasha

Inviting everyone to come in and talk. Circumnavigating "ass-backwards rules" for public consultation. - Dan

 Accountability has come at the cost of transparency. Because everyone is accountable for what they do, no one wants to do anything. - Dan

The people who want to play by the rules are being punished with more rules. And the people who ignore the rules will just ignore them anyways. - Dan

Abusers of SM are hurting everyone? - Tamey

Hypothetical scenario: what if cell phone video of helicopter video blows entire secret operation (DND) when posted to YouTube. But SM is blocked so they had to no way to monitor. - Dan

Public Health -- emergency situation removes roadblocks! - Tamey

Largely cultural. No one wants to take the first step... but lots of talk. Is GCPEDIA the first step? Takes someone at the ADM level to support it. (Motive: I don't want to look like I don't know what I am talking about?) - Dan

Tamey: Senior management wants to follow established precedent, not break new ground.

Grievance against blogging about CPSR? Union supported the blogger. - Dan

Need more ppl who are willing to put their jobs on the line? - Dan

Young ppl have the right mindset? Openness... Natasha

It's about getting in a room and having a debate. - Natasha

Ppl getting fired for Twitter doesn't take individual style into account. - Natasha

Twitter users are not Millenials. Mostly over 30... young ppl don't actively network b/c they don't know how to not network. - Cedgell

Word gets around. Accountability? - Natasha

Using SM makes it harder to get where you want to be. Information is growing exponentially. How do we filter information? Systemic and architectural considerations. - Larry

Globe and Mail - how do you filter comments?

Perhaps the key to engaging in understanding ppl's strengths and showing them how SM can amplify and express their strengths.

WHERE TO GO FROM HERE

education - Natasha

Seminars - Lija

Select a tool for the purpose; don't try to apply a purpose to a tool. - Cedgell

Unblock - Lija

Be careful not to invest to heavily in Twitter. API based on geographical networks? Bring SM into geopolitical reality. - Larry

IDENTI.CA