The Rapid Response Institute

Tag: social media

  • Who Let the Dogs Out?

    Who Let the Dogs Out?

    Our often called, ‘Best Friend’ has and continues to teach us all manner of life lessons.  While the Dog Days of Summer will soon be upon those who live in the northern hemisphere, not all dogs choose to stay on the porch.

    Most dogs are action oriented.  Throw a ball or a stick and some will retrieve it, seemingly endlessly.  In this they set a high bar for consistent behavior.  Their relationship with the thrower changes when the conditions or situation gets both parties off the porch.

    Often attributed to comedian Steve Harvey and others, “Dogs don’t bark at parked cars” has taken on a wide range of meanings.  The one that stands out is Leadership!

    Action oriented dogs will address issues of the day, i.e., car movement.  They are not interested in hunks of metal (dead weight) accomplishing nothing.  It makes no sense to bother with an inanimate object, unless the goal is to get inside it so you can hang you head out the window once it is on the highway.

    Focus is on the doable, not the abstract.

    Enter the Human

    Archelogy suggests that dogs were domesticated between 20-40,000 years ago.  They have been our companions, confidants and supporters longer than any other non-humans.

    Today, dogs lead in all manner of endeavors, as pets, service and support partners, drug and explosive identification and even becoming a ‘go human interest videos’ on social media including LinkedIn.

    One can argue that the bond between dog and humans is unique.  They seem to have a rare ingrained sense of our emotions.  Likewise, our bond with them is often even stronger than it is with our family members.  Indeed, they are often referred to as ‘family.’

    For some dog fun, take a look at this short video.  Puts the car-dog-human relationship into perspective.

    It is hard to imagine life without dogs in it.  This pundit sees this phenomena almost everyday when the dog walkers go by, often with 3-5 dogs.  Our lives are better because thousands of years ago they chose to adopt us.

    R B C

    We have long been a proponent of the Relationship, Behavior, Conditions (situation) model for human and cross cultural interactions.  More on this can be found on our website.

    The point of this blog is that this model is not limited to human to human interactions.  It has broad use between all manner of cultures.  Even canine to human!

    Leadership

    “If you ain’t the lead dog, the view never changes.”  A familiar statement regarding sled dog teams.  Moreover, dogs and wolves are collaborative pack animals and each pack has an Alpha Male (canine or human).

    Both humans and canines collaborate to accomplish a given task or set of tasks.  Leadership sets the path and assures that the ‘team’ remains focused and all members achieve a level of personal and organizational satisfaction during and after the project is completed.

    Dogs are good role models for all of us.  Their unconditional love and support are legendary.  Since “All dogs go to heaven,” we know that they have our best interests at heart.

    Just a Doggone Minute!  Have You Hugged Your Best Friend Today?

    For More Information

    Please note, RRI does not endorse or advocate the links to any third-party materials.  They are provided for education and entertainment only.

    For more information on Cross Cultural Engagement, check out our Cross Cultural Serious Game.  You can contact this author as well.

  • Clickbait Redux

    Clickbait Redux

    We are offered the world at the tip of our fingers, But!  There are many prices to pay.  Theft by scam simply by clicking on a great opportunity is getting more sophisticated all the time.

    Recently, this pundit was offered a once in a lifetime possibility if only I would listen to an MS Office (voicemail) sent to my email account.  Seemed OK, how harmful could it be?  Certainty, this world class software provider tool was safe?

    Well, as the saying goes, my mama didn’t raise no fool.  Not saying I won’t be duped at some point, but I like to think the odds are against it.  Tagged as junk, I will never know what the sender had to say.  Nor do I care, since likely it was phishing at best and possibly something worse.

    That said, businesses cannot run on the basis of individual prowess, especially when the scams often exceed hundreds a week or even a day.  Junk mail filters are much better than before but still not perfect and malefactors are always launching cyber organized criminal efforts to supersede defensive protections.

    Equally, if not more important, how many legitimate businesses lose sales or even have their reputations significantly compromise as a result of scams?  If a prospects clicks on your logo and is defrauded, her or she will most likely continue to blame the logo owner and not the criminals.

    Setting the Hook

    Fisherman know how to catch fish.  They know the right locations, time of day, cloudy or not and so forth and so on the land the ‘Big One.’

    On the other hand, digital hackers do not appear to have this ingrained focused instinct.  Perhaps, this skill is not necessary for them.

    Masquerading in plain sight, spammers try to tap into the greed in all of us.  Easy, quick and large these opportunities are attractive and many fall for them.

    As a mentor and advisor to organizations of all sizes, I consistently review product/service and even enterprise value propositions.  Frankly, many are found wanting.  Currently, the Lean Canvas construct and/or Elevator Pitch are models for succinctly posturing a position quickly.

    However, it takes a lot of effort to craft the short piece.  Only then does the firm have something of value for prospects and customers.

    While Fortune 500 et al will remain targets of cyber hacking, it is possible for others to make themselves less attractive to organized crime.  Firms should ask themselves, what is the goal for their web presence?

    In 2019, this blog addressed the “what’s in it for me question” as opposed to collecting ‘Likes.’  That edition contained a real world case study of wrong-headed thinking by a consulting firm collecting the wrong data.  As the client, we did not implement that recommendation.

    There is a fine line between building market ‘Buzz’ and simply collecting ‘Likes’.  However, the real focus should be on building repeat customers.  Recommendations from others, should still be part of the business model.

    Cyber is now an important part of every firm’s business model.  Part of the organization’s cybersecurity model has to be, “Why are individuals coming to the website?”  In other words, “What value are we providing them?”

    What is the Value of a ‘Like’ to your Organization and What is the ‘Risk’ of Obtaining One?

    For More Information

    Please note, RRI does not endorse or advocate the links to any third-party materials.  They are provided for education and entertainment only.

    For more information on Cross Cultural Engagement, check out our Cross Cultural Serious Game.  You can contact this author as well.

  • Beware The Guns of March?

    Beware The Guns of March?

    Readers know that as of this writing there is geopolitical and military tension in eastern Europe.  Hopefully, the situation will resolve peacefully.

    This piece is not about those politics.  Rather it is about the potential for accidental engagement and how that risk can be mitigated.

    President Kennedy is famously cited for the comment that referred to the origin of the War to End All Wars, “Perhaps the greatest contribution historians have made to humanity, at least as historians sometimes tell it, came during the Cuban Missile Crisis when Barbara Tuchman’s book, The Guns of August, saved the world from nuclear war.  The book is Tuchman’s narrative of the origins of the First World War, an account that, in President John F. Kennedy’s reading, showed how miscalculation and inflexible military planning could force great powers into catastrophic conflicts against their leaders’ wishes.”  We might add, against the wishes of the populations that must endure the unbearable cost of stupid interventions.  As noted by Herbert Hoover.

    “Older men declare war. But it is the youth that must fight and die.”

    While the Cuban Missile Crisis worked out well for both parties, including the world in general, it was not necessarily a given.  Miscalculations such as the US lack of knowledge regarding nuclear weapons onboard Soviet submarines or the ‘launch’ upon the invasion of the island of Cuba order could have been disastrous.

    Misunderstanding during the 1983 military exercise Able Archer is another example of a near nuclear catastrophe.  And then there all the Broken Arrows,  nuclear weapon incidents (that we know of).

    Complex Systems’ Behaviors

    This blog series has commented on complex interconnected systems a number of times.  The  Risk Profile is dramatically increased in such systems.  Geopolitical and military systems must be viewed through this lens as well.  However, we know complex systems can be properly managed and thus reduce the likelihood of major global impact events.

    This process is grounded in High Reliability Management (HRM).  Wikipedia defines, “A high reliability organization (HRO) is an organization that has succeeded in avoiding catastrophes in an environment where normal accidents can be expected due to risk factors and complexity.

    This author believes that geopolitical and military complex systems can benefit from this model.  Given that the cost of these type failures is incalculable they certainty fits HRM profile.

    Folly Revisited

    In the 1930s Brinksmanship did not end well.  Following historical patterns, especially from World War I, Europe plunged into the abyss for the second time in two decades.  Miscalculations on the side of multiple parties in both conflicts let to unthinkable destruction and loss of life.

    Today’s militaries are much more powerful than ever.  Hopefully, from Shakespeare, “Beware the ides of March” does not portend this year.

    Geopolitical miscalculations, brinksmanship and other aggressive negotiations can go badly.  This is especially the case when adversaries are not in direct and frequent communication with all parties.

    Even then cultural differences put discussions at risk.  Temperance, communication and though is what saves the world from the unthinkable.  Hopefully, cooler heads will continue to prevail during the current crisis.

    Cross Cultural Negotiation

    The importance of cross cultural understanding cannot be overstated as geopolitics and businesses deal with complex, multi-faceted issues across many nations, ethnicities and cultures.  Old international negotiation models are no longer relevant.

    Behavioral Economics is foremost today.  All parties dealt with are by definition diverse.  They are composed of different genders, ethnicities and ages etc.  This is a more accurate model that reflects the reality of organizations today.

    Also, keep in mind that no nation is homogeneous.  Each is composed of separate regions, cities, with local backgrounds, cultures and more.  So when one talks about two or more geopolitical entities to be at odds over an issue(s), that model is too simplistic and can lead to greater risks as described earlier.

    These are more contributing factors for misunderstanding and miscalculation.  Most of us never ‘step in the other’s shoes.’  However, we can recognize the differences in perspectives, behavior and cultures.

    Changing the Playing Field

    We have often discussed the Relationships, Behaviors and Conditions (RBC) construct among economic actors.  The model argues that new Conditions or Situations and Behaviors change the Relationship among parties.  This applies at all levels of human interactions from two individuals to many nations.  It is applicable here as knowledge to help diffuse difficult situations.  For an in-depth review of the model, check the linked blog.

    No Guns this Time?

    The cascading events following the assassination of the Austrian, Archduke Franz Ferdinand by a small terrorist group is widely believed to have led to the beginning of World War I.  The sceptic must put forth, “you have got to be kidding me.”  Yet, it did happen.

    Our point here is that it does not take much to launch the horrible.  How many American doughboys died for that nonsense?  It can happen again and most likely will at some point given human nature.

    Business Contingency

    Geopolitical risk has always been one component of an organization’s risk profile.  What will be the impact on your business if the unthinkable happens in Europe again?  Other risk mitigation tools include social media.

    In 2013 we published ” Mitigating Operational Risk Using the Power of Social Media” that identified a methodology to better understand the beliefs and behaviors of local populations.  From the footnoted piece, “Large global enterprises can augment existing security and risk management with the same solutions used by the government entities in the defense sector at commercial price points.  The real question is not why, but why not?”

    Since that time, there have been significant advances in these capabilities.  Other readily available tools can assist as well.  Use inexpensive technology to protect global stakeholder interests.

    How Robust is Your Firm’s Contingency Plans for Geopolitical Uncertainties?

    For More Information

    Please note, RRI does not endorse or advocate the links to any third-party materials.  They are provided for education and entertainment only.

    For more information on Cross Cultural Engagement, check out our Cross Cultural Serious Game.  You can contact this author as well.

    Footnote

    Kuiper, Marcus A. and Shemwell, Scott M. (2013, February). Mitigating Operational Risk Using the Power of Social Media. Petroleum Africa Magazine. pp. 28-31.

  • You’re Kidding, Right?

    You’re Kidding, Right?

    Not Again

     

    In 2018 we posted an opinion regarding social media driven sales ‘cold calling.’  As noted then, the comments went along the lines, “I reviewed your profile and I know I can help.”  This unsolicited approach continues to be blown off by this and other pundits/potential customers as amateurish.

    Recently, the tactic has sifted.  Now the argument seems to refrain (not literally), “I have reviewed your profile and I would like to offer you something that you have no interest in.”  What?

    In the past few weeks, I have been offered the opportunity to ‘buy in’ to an insurance agency, retain a coach, buy a franchise specifically chosen for me, and any number of prospect generation engagements.  Kidding right?  As if I do not know how to run my business?

    Innovative solutions that individuals and organizations are not aware of can add value and ‘reaching out’ to inform those unaware is legitimate and a long standing sales approach.  Most prospects welcome this knowledge and then can make an informed decision as to the relevance to their needs.

    Lunch and Learn models come to mind.  If I respond to this invitation, perhaps I am a qualified prospect worthy of follow up.

    The Call Back . . .

    Then, “Since you did not respond, I am sending you the same crap again“.  Maybe there was no response because the owner of a software company does not want to invest in the insurance business.

    A follow up should further the prospects knowledge, thus generating interest.  Regurgitating the same o ‘ same o ‘ is pointless, if not insulting.

    What a waste of everyone’s time, including the seller.  If the idea is just to blast everyone and see what sticks, this approach has never really worked.

    For example, somehow despite my being on the ‘no mail’ list this writer routinely receives (snail) junk mail from an AC service company that is not nearby, two real estate brokers I have no relationship with (one because they sold the house next to mine last year) and the infamous, home insurance renewal scam.

    Finally, I love the one whereby the vendor will send me qualified leads for my stock brokerage business.  What filter did that guy use?  Maybe AI.  As might be expected, none of these vendors received a call back, much less a sale.

    Someone With Your Name

    We have all received notification that someone with your surname has died and her/his bank account has millions in it.  “I am writing to you because we can transfer this wealth to you.  Just send us your banking information.”

    How is any of this different from online cold calling?  At its core, it is not.  These approaches to selling are abusive and condescending.  Moreover, they are not likely to win any business.  They come across as scams and not bonifide offers.

    Develop a Value Proposition

    If you want my business, explain how its adds value to my life.  Don’t just blast out something you HOPE will get my attention.  Why do I need coaching?  Why do I need a franchise or insurance agency?  Tell me something that matters to me.

    I am sure this message will not be heeded and I expect to continue to receive worthless materials from people I do not know.  The waste of bits and bites will not stop.  Just know that like rewards from the African princesses, such requests will go to Junk.

    For a sales model that works, see our Economic Value Proposition Matrix® (EVPM).  Additional information and a free version to build your own EVPM is available.

    Are You Doing Your Homework and Presenting Yourself/Organization as a Legitimate Provider?

    For More Information

    Please note, RRI does not endorse or advocate the links to any third-party materials.  They are provided for education and entertainment only.

    For more information on Cross Cultural Engagement, check out our Cross Cultural Serious Game

    We presented, Should Cross Cultural Serious Games Be Included in Your Diversity Program: Best Practices and Lessons Learned at the Online Conference, New Diversity Summit 2020 the week of September 14, 2020.  Check Out this timely event and contact the organizer for access to the presentations!!

    You can contact this author as well.