The digital spirit level – four learning points for innovation
Achieving equilibrium is a tricky thing when attempting to introduce digital innovation to large organisations. There are many different paces to manage; so many different interests to consider; and so many pot holes to fall down. Just when I think we’ve got one thing in balance I look over my shoulder and something else needs adjusting. If I were to hold a virtual spirit level to our mHealthHabitat programme I’d rarely see a balanced horizontal line. Here are a four learning points from our first six months: Tactics versus strategy We began our mHealthHabitat programme by doing stuff – finding pockets of interest and enthusiasm, supporting bright ideas, learning through experience, making mistakes and doing it differently next time. Doing is very important – it is grounded, it engages people and it generates evidence about what works and what doesn’t. But it is not enough. You also have to create a receptive context as well as alignment with organisational strategy if your innovation is to be sustainable. A beautiful strategy but no doing is another trap. Doing and strategising need to be kept in constant equilibrium with one informing the other and back again. Keeping both in your line of vision are critical but it’s easy to lose sight of one or the other. Internal versus external Innovation often emerges when diverse perspectives enable us to see a problem differently and find an unexpected solution. Digital innovation requires not only different perspectives but very different skills sets, language and styles of communication. An internal NHS orientation focuses on building awareness and enthusiasm within organisational channels, and engaging with clinicians...
Purpose, values and meaning – a few Twitter-related reflections
What can you learn about social media from tweeting from an account that isn’t your own? This week I found out when I took over the People of Leeds Twitter account for a week. People of Leeds is curated by a different person each week and the only criteria is that you have to live, work or play in Leeds – it’s a great idea! Whilst tweeting from the account was a bit of fun, I also used it as an opportunity for reflection on my own use of Twitter. If you want to reflect on your own account then I heartily recommend a similar experience – it’s great for a bit of perspective. Building relationships – social networking is all about networks and relationships, so it was discombobulating to begin the week with a ready-made set of over 6000 followers, of whom I mostly knew nothing about. I found myself scrolling through my timeline searching for commonalities in the people I was following – who had chosen to follow them and why? Without knowing your followers it’s hard to create content that’s likely to be interesting or useful to them. It reminded me that relationships on my own Twitter account have been forged over years and how those connections have been sustained through reciprocity – shared interests and shared knowledge. I’m interested in my timeline because it is filled with people I have chosen to follow. Those connections really do count. Purpose and values – having a clear purpose is like a compass for a social media account, which in turn provides clarity from which your content can flow....about.me
Victoria Betton
victoria betton
director mHabitat | NHS | social media & mental health doctorate | interested in digital inclusion | parma violets fiend | http://codesigndigitalhealth.co.uk
