All You Ever Wanted to Know About Typography
March 18, 2010 by Jon BenjamininHouse Design Association
March 18, 2010 by Jon BenjaminIf you are an inhouse graphic designer like myself, the inHouse Design Association is a great resource: http://inhousedesignassociation.org
Identity in the Digital Age
March 17, 2010 by Jamie NotterI spoke at the ASAE Great Ideas Conference last week with friend and colleague Maddie Grant on “Truth and Authenticity in the Digital Age.” The session explored some of the impacts that the social internet is having on us, both as individuals and as organizations. Following the lead of fellow MSP staffer Jon Benjamin, we did our presentation using the online Prezi software, so you can view the presentation yourself.
One of the basic points of our presentation is that the way we manage our identity has changed. In the “analog” age (before the social internet), we were able to divide our individual identity into separate pieces. There was the part that I shared with my family and very close friends, and there was a part that I shared with work colleagues, and there might be separate parts that I only share with other smaller communities related to my interests or hobbies. When you applied for a job in the old days, you were able to present a fairly thin slice of who you were (via a resume and some hand-picked references), and, more importantly, you got to control what that slice looked like.
Today it is different. We create online identities by leaving our mark on Facebook, Linked In, Delicious, Flickr, YouTube, etc. We review books on Amazon, we comment on blogs..there are many ways that our identity shows up on line. It is still true that we have some control over how we present ourselves. Like many people, my linked in profile has a more professional tone to it, and my Facebook profile is more personal and casual.
Yet we can’t keep all those different identities as separate as we used to, because one search on Google and all those pieces can be listed next to each other, not to mention what other people are saying about you online. If anything, the trend is toward EXPECTING to find a diverse identity when searching for someone.
So what do do about all this? There’s no one right answer, but it does require some clarity on your part. I know a lot of people who simply won’t create a Facebook page because they don’t want their work friends to have access to their personal lives. That’s fine. But this can be a big challenge for people who work in AMCs. For example, I have several clients who each have either a Facebook or LinkedIn group, and I want to be connected to those conversations. Do I have to create a separate account for each of those identities, or can I handle the fact that the Historical Archaeologists will realize that I am also connected to Remodeling Professionals?
I have chosen to keep it mixed. We will see how much “confusion” it creates, though I suspect it won’t be much. And sure, I’m careful about what I post or say on Facebook because I know everyone (related to all my separate identities) might read it. But I also have concluded that I am human and I don’t need to hide that.
You don’t have to do it that way. You can keep things separate, or not reveal as much. But I think that should be a clear strategic choice on your part. Have you thought about the implications of your choice?
Beyond Relevance
February 23, 2010 by Jamie NotterI am going to be part of a three-part webinar series with the title “Beyond Relevance.” It is being put on by TMA Resources, and it was partly inspired by a blog post I wrote on the Get Me Jamie Notter blog last September. In short, the association community often highlights the importance of being “relevant” to members, and I just don’t think that is enough any more. The first webcast will be this Thursday, February 25th, at 2pm. The other two will be on March 16th and 31st. You have to register in order to take part, but they are free!
Each webinar will be an open conversation among three panelists. This Thursday it will be me, Jeff De Cagna of Principled Innovation, and Ken Wolff from the consulting firm Achievance. But the conversation is not limited to the webinar itself. TMA has set up a blog just on this topic. I’ll be posting to it later today, as will many of the panelists, and there is also a twitter hashtag: #beyondrelevance.
Come join the conversation!
Over-communicating: The Art of Saying Things and Then Saying Them Again
February 9, 2010 by Jamie NotterYes, the title of this post is redundant, but this is my leadership lesson of the week: over-communicating. I learned this one eons ago, and it has been passed down by probably every guru that has ever guru’d. Tell them what you’re going to tell them, then tell them, then tell them what you told them.
But when I get neck deep in the work, I forget it. I send the emails out, or we have the Board meeting, or I have the conversation, and then it’s out of my head. I have checked that box. I did my job communicating. I forget that in a week or two I need to send the same message out. I forget that my staff will perform better when I share more information than I think is necessary.
It is particularly important when an association has a decentralized committee structure. A lot happens at the Board level that is assumed to have been communicated down to the Committees. And it was, it just wasn’t communicated enough. We need to remind our leaders (both staff and volunteer) that when you get to the top positions, the decision-making responsibilities are often dwarfed by the communication responsibilities.
Then we should tell them that again.
Prezi—The Antithesis of PowerPoint
February 3, 2010 by Jon BenjaminI recently completed my first Prezi presentation, and the experience was refreshing to say the least. Prezi is a new Flash-based online presentation software that creates simple dynamic slide presentations—although there is nothing slide-like about it. I recommend visiting prezi.com and testing a few online Prezis like the following http://prezi.com/wesbmcijhqvx/ and http://prezi.com/acdt5llng8xt/
The reason why I have described Prezi as the antithesis of PowerPoint, is because the tools that are provided are incredibly simple and limited. This constraint, I believe, prevents non-designers from creating a visual disaster. I would predict that the average user has a 90% chance of creating a good presentation, were as with PowerPoint, I would estimate the average user has a 90% chance of creating something awful.
Within these very tight constraints, a designer can open up infinite creative possibilities using Adobe Illustrator and Photoshop. When I say “infinite” I am referring specifically to creativity—Prezi is light like a motorcycle not heavy like a tank. In my limited experience with Prezi it seemed important to keep the file sizes small—I wouldn’t recommend using it for a large slide shows that use hundreds of hi-res images. So don’t worry PowerPoint and Keynote (not that you would) Prezi will not create a revolution and replace either of you.
My experience with Prezi was like a breath of fresh air, although it did take some getting use to—it is an unusual environment to work in—but once you get the hang of it, it is fun.
I did learn a few things during this brief experience that I will do differently when creating another Prezi. I created an abundant amount of custom graphics with embedded text. This became cumbersome when edits were made by the client to the text. I would have to make the text edits in Illustrator or Photoshop, then export the files, then import and replace them in Prezi. I couldn’t simply update my links. Next time I will try and rely more on the text tool in Prezi for areas that have more text, in this case it was Q&A.
Another issue arose when I realized the speed of my computer was a great hinderance. Since Prezi is Flash based—how fast you move within the environment is dependent on how fast your computer can view complex Flash movies.
Overall my experience with Prezi was fun and refreshing—I encourage everyone to at least give it a try—I doubt you will be disappointed.
Below I have included 2 videos that explain how Prezi works.
Enquiring Minds Want To Know [How AND Why]
January 28, 2010 by Angela PikeIf you have ever had the occasion to be around a small child, you’ll know how tiresome it can become when every answer you give them is followed by “why?” But think about it. As irritating as it may seem, that’s how they learn. Without that inquisitive streak, they would never acquire knowledge.
Unfortunately, as we progress into adulthood, our thirst for knowledge does not always seem so eager to be quenched. In an attempt to get through our busy work day, we sometimes just go through the motions in an attempt to get the job done, never stopping to question why we are undertaking these tasks in the first place or would it make sense to do anything differently.
Many moons ago, at the end of my first year of employment with the British Government, I received my annual review. My reporting officer commented that I always wanted to know why, not just how, I was to accomplish my assigned duties. Now, whether he meant this as a compliment, or if he was insinuating that I was as annoying to him as a two year old child, I didn’t have the nerve to ask. However, as I enter the fourth decade of my working life, I am thrilled to see that similar comments have continued to feature in my annual reviews. It indicates to me that I am interested and involved enough in my duties to want to know everything about the tasks that I am assigned. And, when it is clear why practices, or tasks, need to be executed in a certain way, or need to be consistent, it removes confusion, adds clarity, promotes understanding (and can even remove resentments). Often, when we ask why, better hows can be implemented, creating even more efficient best practices.
So next time you’re asked to take on a new set of duties, or you’re asked to do some on the job training, ask/explain why things are done in a certain manner, not just how. I believe that it makes for a more well-rounded employee!
Next month I’ll deal with “whatevvver”!
Social Media Workshop
January 22, 2010 by Jamie NotterI will be attending the AMC Institute’s Annual Meeting in February for the first time ever (I am new to the AMC world, after all). I’m delivering a pre-meeting workshop on Social Media with Steve Drake, Brian Ruewee, and Jim Quick. We’re going to cover the basics of what social media is (and isn’t) as well as some of the building blocks of social media strategy. In the second half we’re going to work directly with participants on some of the nitty gritty of the tools. If you’re going to be at the meeting in San Antonio, consider joining us at the pre-meeting workshop!
Getting to Know Your Client
January 13, 2010 by Jamie NotterI just got back from a week at one my client’s annual meetings. It’s a big event–1100 people, tons of sessions, four separate Board meetings for me to attend, plus managing staff, committee meetings, and trying to make it to the various receptions, parties and of course those sessions at the bar where all the “real” work gets done.
It’s a lot to juggle, but the bottom line is there is no other way for me to really understand this organization. I’ve read their strategic plan, bylaws, and conference manual. I’ve read the newsletter (okay I haven’t read the Journal; sorry it’s just not my field. But I promise to read it eventually). I read the Board minutes, business meeting minutes, and I even had phone conversations with various Board members. But you don’t really know a client until you see them in action and watch them talking about what really matters to them.
I imagine the same goes for them to some extent. Until they see how I react to them in their context, they’re still guessing about me. They’ve read my resume and maybe even some articles or blog posts I’ve written. But they won’t really know what to do with me until we are able to interact over some time in a context with which they are familiar.
I think we tend to over estimate how well we know the “other” simply by gathering non-experiential information about them.
Board Composition and Answering the Right Questions
December 29, 2009 by Jamie NotterOne of my clients recently asked me to weigh in on what would be the “right” composition of the Board. They are considering adding permanent positions to the Board (via a bylaws change) so that four different publications editors would be Board officers (they currently have two).
So what do you think? Is this “wrong”? I will admit my initial reaction is a wrinkled brow–why would you need all those editors on the Board? Doing the work of the association (publications) and the ultimate decision making authority (the Board) are two different things. Though I know enough about associations to know that there are probably examples in the industry of every “strange” composition you can think of. I’m not sure there is a “best practice” here (not to mention my general issue with the concept of best practice).
So here’s my advice to this client. Make sure you are answering the right question. The question is not how many editors should have voting rights. The question is, what structure will enable the Board to do its job most effectively. Form follows function. You have to decide what the function of your Board truly is, because only then will you be able to determine the appropriate composition. Like much in association management, our current systems, structures, and processes exist simply because that’s how we’ve always done it. That doesn’t mean they are bad, but they might need to be re-examined.
Does your Board set a direction for the organization, or does it manage competing interests of functional units? Does it make strategic choices, or does it manage the implementation of programs. Depending on how you answer these questions, you could compose your Board in a variety of different ways.
Personally, I think most associations would benefit from a strategically focused Board of directors. For this particular client, publications are very important. But I think there are plenty of ways to ensure the strategic importance of publications is reflected in Board decisions–outside of changing the bylaws and adding permanent director positions.
Jamie Notter
Beth W. Palys, CAE
Heidi Zimmerman
Jon Benjamin
Angela Pike