Social Media is Driven by the Person, Not the Position

Last Wednesday, I moderated a panel discussion on Government 2.0 for the Social Media Club, DC Chapter, where I had the opportunity to speak with, and more importantly, learn from, some of the people most responsible for that phrase – Government 2.0. I’m not even speaking of just the panelists – it seemed like virtually every attendee could have been one of the “experts” on the panel (and probably have been at some point).

Social Media Club DC Government 2.0 Panel

Social Media Club DC Government 2.0 Panel

Panelists included:

As I began the discussion, focusing first on the definition of Government 2.0, and then diving into some of the unique challenges the government faces, I noticed something about the three panelists and the 100 or so people in the audience.  This was a gathering of people interested in Government 2.0 and how this concept is fundamentally changing the way our government operates and the audience wasn’t filled with Chief Technology Officers, Chief Information Officers, Directors, or Secretaries – it was filled with scientists, contractors, members of the media, webmasters,and start-ups.

That’s when it really hit home for me, that the present and future of social media within the government doesn’t lie with whom President Obama’s CTO will be, or what memos and directives the Obama administration will issue.

Social media is driven by the person, not the position.

It doesn’t matter if you’re a GS-7 working on a government website, a concerned citizen, or a Chief Technology Officer – social media isn’t about the title, it’s about the person.  It’s about the person who has seen the potential of social media to make a change for the better and who has done something about it.  It’s about the guy who convinces his administrator to do a press conference on Twitter.  It’s about the group of people who self-organize a Government 2.0 Barcamp.  It’s about the IT specialist who starts an entire social network dedicated to Government 2.0 in his spare time.

Speculating about Obama’s CTO or the impact this Administration will have on Government 2.0 is fun, but if you really want an idea of the future of social media and government, stop looking at the titles that follow the name, and focus instead on the person behind the name.  Some of the most exciting things happening in Government 2.0 have their roots not in corner offices, but from cubicles, personal laptops, happy hours, and networking events.

*Photo courtesy of Mark Drapeau

, , ,

About sradick

I'm an SVP, Senior Director at BCW in Pittsburgh. Find out more about me here (https://steveradick.com/about/).

View all posts by sradick

76 Responses to “Social Media is Driven by the Person, Not the Position”

  1. iphone repair Says:

    This “one to many” and “many to many” strategy will create a wide scale social influence on the customers and communities they serve. I think India turns the social media into new strategies.

  2. iphone repair Says:

    This “one to many” and “many to many” strategy will create a wide scale social influence on the customers and communities they serve. I think India turns the social media into new strategies.

  3. Cheree Osment Says:

    Hello just came across your blog and i thank you for your story it was informative. I am interested about link building for my site too. Have you used the scrapebox.com program? If so is it good? If not then what is the best program? Thank you.

  4. Cheree Osment Says:

    Hello just came across your blog and i thank you for your story it was informative. I am interested about link building for my site too. Have you used the scrapebox.com program? If so is it good? If not then what is the best program? Thank you.

  5. banners Says:

    it’s amazing post . I just added you to my News Reader. Keep up.

  6. banners Says:

    it’s amazing post . I just added you to my News Reader. Keep up.

  7. automotive parts Says:

    I think the above article is informative for all concerned people. For me the Informations are really really useful.

  8. new online casinos Says:

    Very nice information. Thanks for this. I've Bookmarked this page for future reference.

  9. telegraph fantasy football Says:

    This article is really great information. Thanks for providing us with an outlet to discuss our options. It is very helpful.

  10. Tom Says:

    Excellent article. I expect more articles in future about it. I bookmarked it..

  11. website builder Says:

    Social media is definitely driven by the person because all are equal in social media.

  12. Alkaline Water Says:

    The bottom line is: You get what you put in to social media.

  13. Naples web design Says:

    I can say that one of the persons who do this kind of approach is the owner of Facebook. He do this right kind of approach when he launched his own social media site and as far as I can see the owner of Facebook which is Mark Zuckerberg really do an interaction not only with his own developing team but with the users too by means of supporting their suggestion to improve more the social media site he owned.

  14. Libel (Marga van Rijssel ?) Says:

    Twitter Comment


    Social Media is Driven by the Person, Not the Position [link to post]

    Posted using Chat Catcher

  15. alkaline water Says:

    My sister recommended drinking alkaline water instead of bottled water. Something aboutalkalizing or something along thos lines is supposed to much more health for you.

  16. Anonymous Says:

    Supp People?
    this is quite convincing stuff on web designing, development and maintenance, but I would advise you also take a look at http://www.it-india.com for more info on web designing, development and maintenance and many more related topics…
    thx..

  17. Kakkarshruti44 Says:

    Hi there,
    this is quite convincing stuff, but you might also wana hit http://www.it-india.com for more info on social media..
    Cheers

  18. joey Says:

    For me the Informations are really really useful.
    24C08

Trackbacks/Pingbacks

  1. Twenty Theses for Government 2.0, Cluetrain Style | Social Media Strategery -

    […] media is not driven by the position, the title, or the department, it’s driven by the person.  Stop trying to pidgeon-hole into one team or department, and instead think of a way to bring […]

  2. Disagreements and Debates Are Good Things | Social Media Strategery -

    […] of most social media and Gov 2.0 evangelists. We probably don’t have any special degrees or titles, but we aren’t afraid to take a risk and try a new way of doing things. Reprimands, […]

  3. Who Owns Social Media? Everyone and No One | Social Media Strategery -

    […] your organization’s initial foray into social media may have started with a junior public affa…, more and more organizations are now trying to figure out how to integrate these social media […]

  4. The Social Strategist Profile of 2011 -

    […] to @sradick for both: Identify the Right People to Manage Your Social Media Initiatives and Social Media is Driven by the Person, Not the Position Share with your Favourite Social […]

  5. Identify the Right People to Manage Your Social Media Initiatives | Social Media Strategery -

    […] This is why so many social media initiatives fail – not because of technology or policy, but because of people.  We talk often about what department should lead social media, how to get leadership buy-in for social media, or what technology should be used, and while those are important discussions to have, you should be focused on identifying WHO should be leading the social media initiatives.  Not whether that's the Chief Marketing Officer or the Director of Public Affairs or the Community Relations Lead, but actual names of people.  Remember, social media is driven by the person, not the position. […]

  6. Identify the Right People to Manage Your Social Media Initiatives | Social Media Strategery -

    […] This is why so many social media initiatives fail – not because of technology or policy, but because of people.  We talk often about what department should lead social media, how to get leadership buy-in for social media, or what technology should be used, and while those are important discussions to have, you should be focused on identifying WHO should be leading the social media initiatives.  Not whether that’s the Chief Marketing Officer or the Director of Public Affairs or the Community Relations Lead, but actual names of people.  Remember, social media is driven by the person, not the position. […]