You heard it before: we are in a revolution – the social media revolution. While you may not fight with bullets and spill blood, you should be aware of the weapons and what is at stake…

Soldier Face PaintWeapons of Choice

In a military revolution, the best weapons technology is a huge advantage. In the social media revolution, these are the weapons that will give you an advantage…

Quality: Those who think the social media revolution is just about new communication technology miss the point. Like the prop plane fighting jets, the odds stack against them. You must focus on the core quality of your products. A less than complete focus on quality could once be concealed behind the walls of your organization. Now, quality is butt naked on center stage.

Responsiveness: One of the best kept secrets in social media is just how critical rapid responses are. Sure, most people now understand this importance in responding to a crisis, but it’s almost as important in good times. Leaders who respond quickly to followers in social channels show how they value and appreciate those followers. Engagement increases exponentially, the quicker you respond.

Service: There’s a reason Servant Leadership is experiencing a resurgence. Service has always been in demand, but the power has now shifted from the autocratic few to the masses that demand service. Those who focus on serving all stakeholders will reap the benefits of their commitment.

What’s at Stake

In a military revolution, lives and freedom are at stake. In the social media revolution, here’s what’s at stake for your organization…

Talent: Switching employers is easier than ever. Your best people are constantly aware of where you stand vs. competition. Who’s the best employer? What benefits do they offer? What’s the leadership like at each organization? If you want the best people, you better have the best culture, leadership and values.

Corporate Reputation: The data is there for anyone to compile and it’s not going away. Customer reviews, employee reviews, investor analysis – all of it is compiled to reflect your public reputation. Tools exist today to do this, but they are in their infancy. Five years from now, you’ll see comprehensive data, simplified aggregation and your reputation will be bared for the world to see.

Revenue: Got the best talent and a great reputation? Great revenue will likely follow. Lousy talent and a bad reputation? Yeah, you know where you are headed. If you believe social media does not have major implications to future revenue, you’re already losing the battle.

The winners of this revolution will be those who understand what’s at stake and the weapons they must use. Leaders who do not understand this, will be overthrown by revolutionaries.

Question: What else is at stake? What other weapons will the revolutionaries use?