Feb
25
Facebook is seeing explosive growth in the 35-54 year age group with 276% growth during a recent 6 month sample. The 55+ demographic is not far behind with a 193% increase in the same period. The Generation Y 18-24 year olds now make up only 40.8% which is down sharply from 53.8% only six months ago. This snapshot is U.S based but the trend is similar across the wider community.
Anyway, I really don’t favour terms like ‘Generation Y’ that stereotype age with particular behaviours - it is often the exceptions that give the critical insights. Typically Talent Smoothie describes Gen Y as, “Highly motivated. Discerning. Questioning. Innovative. Ethical. They’re redefining the way organisations interact with their people. And they’re the next generation of leaders”
I prefer to say that those who exhibit those attitudes and behaviours and have captured the spirit and progressive culture of the new electronically connected world are Gen Y - at any age. Surely we have to include the likes of Stephen Fry, Steve Jobs or Barack Obama?
Feb
20
Having 1000 friends on your Facebook account is rapidly becoming ‘so 2008’ as ‘defriending’ becomes a rapidly growing trend on social networks - motivated both by being overwhelmed with (over) flows from newsfeeds, and a desire for quality of relationships and interaction over pure quantity. This seems to have been super-charged by a need to draw-in personal boundaries during scary times.
To help you with this, Charlene Li expects to see applications such as Twitter Grader arriving soon on your favourite social network.
Feb
11
Just back from Edinburgh where I was meeting business leaders to discuss The New Rules of Engagement research findings and talking through the challenges they face in the financial crisis.
My section of The Masterclass covered ‘Engagement in the Digital Age’. I tried to show how the new Web 2.0 tools applied creatively and sensitively in organisations offer fantastic new opportunties to support engagement - that we should see ‘Enterprise 2.0′ social software applications and techniques primarily as digital engagment tools.
The Engage / YouGov research reveals previously under-recognised ‘drivers’ (the elements that are essential to release people’s commitment, enthusiam and passion for what they do). Being directly involved with big issue decisions, feeling able to contribute to the organisation’s strategy, and empowerment to make decisions regarding routine day-to-day stuff, came top of the list. Motivation to perform, pride for their organisation, and fairness - the usual suspects - were there but surprisingly not as significant as the ‘new world’ drivers.
What stood out clearly was that the new digital tools and ways of working we now have at are disposal, such as blogs, wikis, RSS and other collaborative technologies - are near perfect to support the new drivers.
Meeting at the rather cool top floor penthouse at the Point Hotel with spectacular views over the Castle. 