As I continue my study of how collaboration tools are providing value in the enterprise, I keep coming back to the fact that much of the real value comes from the knowledge the user has about which networks and channels work best for what. Five years ago, you knew that reaching a particular VP was most efficiently accomplished via telephone, reaching a specific sales person worked best via email, and that one Director contact would react only when you could catch her in person. Today, the channels to connect with people have grown tenfold with tools like Skype, LinkedIn, Twitter, Facebook, Yammer and many others. While this creates the wonderful ability to maintain and reach a broader network of individuals it also creates a more complex web of networks to negotiate. If not used appropriately, the efficiency gains one might expect from collaborative tools could actually add to your workload vs. making you a more productive and efficient professional.

I have found that the more I Tweet the less I Blog. I'm not the only one as I hear it from other Social Media inspired individuals. Now is this a valid excuse well I'm still not sure. You see I do now find myself trawling the internet more easily for valuable content as my online community has become more honed into my way of thinking so they feed me with all the types of articles I would have taken ages to find a year ago. I also find that my Google Alerts have a brilliant relevance and it musters articles I stand is awe of as they are better written and more publicized than anything I would have done at this point in time. I can then share these easily through my Microsharing/blogging platforms and gain kudos from my community. All my writing concepts tend to now be in Wiki's and proposals and less and less on my Blog. A pity I hear you say.....or maybe not.

 

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