| July 1, 2011 | | CONNECT WITH SMARTBRIEF |  |  | | | News for SmartBrief prospective partners | |
| What's Happening |  |  | | - 3 steps to values-based leadership
 Business leaders need to put their company's values at the core of their management strategies, writes David Greenberg, executive vice president of knowledge at LRN. Seek alignment between ethical principles and your business goals, and seek to inspire ethical behavior across the company, rather than just in your CSR or compliance divisions. "No matter how many resources your company deploys ... little matters if you're not reaching your global workforce at heart, mind and gut level," Greenberg writes. SmartBrief/SmartBlog on Leadership (6/22) - Executive changes, technology trends and drama at McCormick Place
Top industry tweets from the past two weeks:
- Social media's next phase isn't about your customers
Businesses typically have used social tools to engage customers, but the next step in social media's evolution will be for more businesses to embrace the technology for internal communications as well, Cisco's Andrew Warden says. Internal social media can help to link a global business, reinforce corporate culture and allow managers to fine-tune their employees' work flows, Warden said. "Internal social media is the second wave. ... The future of work is in communities," he said. SmartBrief/SmartBlog on Social Media (6/24)
| Leadership Focus | | | | - Why bosses should watch their mouths
Leaders need to remember that their throwaway comments can make a big impact, says John W. Rowe, chairman and CEO of Exelon. Workers often find casual asides easier to understand and internalize than more complex statements about a company's goals. "People hang on a leader's every word on what seems like trivia and can resist like badgers your words when you're really trying to say something you think is important," Rowe says. The New York Times (tiered subscription model) (6/25) - Harnessing the power of true teamwork
Too many leaders try to develop individuals when they should concentrate on a collective mind-set and a mutual commitment from the team, write Linda Hill and Kent Lineback. "Mutual commitment means members hold themselves and each other jointly accountable for the team's performance. They not only think and act collectively, but the social and emotional bonds among them are compelling," they write. Harvard Business Review online/HBR Blog Network (6/28) - How to stay innovative in a downturn
It can be tough to maintain innovation programs during cost-cutting in an economic downturn, write Paul Nunes and Tim Breene. Still, it's vital to find ways to do so, since only companies that innovate through tough times will be well-placed to cash in when the economy rebounds. "The foundations for tomorrow's winners are likely being built today," they write. Harvard Business Review online/HBR Blog Network (6/22) | About SmartBrief | | | | - What we do
SmartBrief publishes industry-specific e-mail newsletters in partnership with prominent associations, professional societies, corporations and nonprofits. More than 4 million executives and professionals rely on SmartBrief every day to stay informed and save them time. Visit here to view our partners, see samples and subscribe. For updates, follow us on Twitter or become a fan on Facebook. Want to explore partnering? Let's talk. | Media 2.0 | | | | - 7 signs a social media "expert" doesn't know what he's talking about
If a social media expert tells you that your marketing efforts are incompatible with social networks or pretends that social media marketing is a cure-all for your company's woes, you might be in the hands of a huckster, writes Nichole Kelly. If you're in the market for a social media agency, be sure to inquire about each team member's experience, and make the agency delve into specifics about what they were able to do for past clients, apart from boosting the followers count. "If you don't know a lot about social media and need some help, that's okay. But make sure you prepare yourself so you hire a solid provider who can contribute to your goals," Kelly writes. SocialMediaExaminer.com (6/24) - Social success means having to say you're sorry
Companies shouldn't let fear of a social media meltdown keep them from exploring the space's potential, experts and executives said at The New York Times Small Business Summit. Social tools let companies build support and sympathy in advance of a crisis, and that makes it more likely that apologies will be taken at face value when they're needed, panelists said. SmartBrief/SmartBlog on Leadership (6/20) - Should your team be curating or creating content?
Many companies use their social channels to share content in a bid to position their experts as thought leaders -- but the best teams are creators as well as curators, writes Georgina Laidlaw. "[A]n approach to social media that leverages your creativity can deliver benefits far beyond brand-customer engagement," Laidlaw writes. GigaOm (6/22) - Don't put roadblocks in front of your content: Marketers shouldn't put barriers such as information-collection gateways in front of their content, marketing consultant Susan Gunelius writes. Share the content first, and relationships with potential customers and clients will follow. Forbes/Career Talk for Women blog (6/21)
| SmartNugget | | | |  | | - For these 14 experts, there's no use crying in their beer
When 14 entrepreneurs get together for beers, you're sure to hear some good stories and useful advice. Here, the participants in a recent "Business & a Beer" event share their inspirations and frustrations in launching of companies. Tony Aiello, CEO of Lifestyle Wireless, says dreams are crucial: "Think big even when you're small, and get a good lawyer and a good accountant." Entrepreneur magazine (7/2011) | |  |
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