Leaders In the Know

Web Basics People Hate to Ask

If you're reading this, I'm confident you have a very good understanding about web technologies. What may surprise you, though, is how many people around you don't - but want to.

A number of years ago, we started offering executive coaching and seminars on what we called for lack of a better term, "technology fluency." Certainly, we reasoned, business leaders who invest in and rely on technology for their success would want to have more than a cocktail party level understanding of what they were getting into.

We were wrong. They didn't.  What we continue to hear behind closed doors is that they don't want to seem foolish. Or be bored. Or that it's an age thing. Or how hard it is to keep the vocabulary straight. What they don't realize is that even people who are comfortable using software don't know enough to build it, deploy it or bet the ranch on it.

We wondered whether there was any other domain in which seasoned managers would be as willing to take as much risk (to the business or to their bonus.) Especially when their decisions have such a wide and long-term impact. I guess others did too. MIT was on it early, but now many universities include a technology course in their management curriculum. But if you know someone who skipped that course, you can help.   

My husband and the CEO of Cognetics, Charlie Kreitzberg, has gotten an incredible response to an article he wrote for our local business paper, US 1, entitled, "Web 2.0 and You." A great way to describe it is: everything you want to know about what's happening with web technology and wish someone who understands business could explain to you in a way that makes sense. We hope you'll read it and pass it on. Please let us know what you think.

To read Charlie's article:

Download Cognetics.web2andyou.pdf

Facebook Eases Angst or Big Turn Off?

Instead of enjoying the end of an incredibly beautiful summer at the beach, we spent the last couple of weeks like many parents of college students. I'm sure I made more trips to more stores than I've made in the past year. Clearly I have forgotten just how much stuff is "absolutely essential" for a freshman. That our daughter could actually get it all packed and loaded in the car is testament to her spatial relationship skills.

Although it was over 90 degrees on move-in day, it didn't rain, we could find a parking place (ok, it was really two parking places) in front of the dorm, and we only had to haul everything to the second floor. It just doesn't get any better than that. Then, I went to the bookstore. Let's just say, I hope she disregards every word her wiser older sisters gave her and reads them all. I'd like to feel I've gotten my $458 worth.

Thanks to Facebook, my daughter and her new roommate quickly connected and got to know one another - well before the semester started. They knew their likes and dislikes, their daily habits, what kind of music they like, you name it.  What's so powerful about Facebook is that it wasn't just useful for two roommates to share their life stories. Within hours of getting their dorm assignments, they were able to connect with lots of other kids in their dorm.

It's only natural that prospective employees will use Facebook (or other social networks, like LinkedIn) to find out what it's like to work for your company - if not before the interview, surely before the offer letter goes out. Would it ease their angst, or turn them off?

I'd like to hear your story. Have you used these networks to check out a prospective boss? How did it influence your decision?  Please comment.