At an event last week I was a listening ear during a brief conversation regarding social media best practices. I didn’t give it much thought until I was processing things on my long drive home in the rain and I began to wonder if social media and best practices could really work together.
The speed in which social media is changing, growing, evolving, and replacing itself with newer and greater technology seems to disregard the essence of an overplayed concept: best practices. Best practices certainly have a place, but in my opinion it is a much more limited deployment than where we see the concept being applied in today’s business atmosphere. Best practices belong in a world of mature business practices that experience limited technological or other forms of change.
In a rapidly evolving environment, leaders have the opportunity to weigh risk and reward, while constantly driving their organization forward. Zappos CEO Tony Hsieh recently Tweeted “following ‘best practices’ is a great way to stifle innovation & ensure that your business is average and behind the times”. I couldn’t agree more. In the dynamic world of social media, average and behind the times isn’t where I’d want to be.
When it comes to social media; lead, don’t follow.
Until tomorrow… -bag
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