Co-opting of a voice
I labored over how to write such a post, a sort-of review of NAR’s first real engagement after the honeymoon of NAR’s SMM hire, but how does one even engage such as task when they are folks you respect? The beauty of snagging a well known foot soldier of the world you want to engage is the wide willingness to accept what the foot soldier has to say as golden rather than rising up and boiling over. The co-opting of a voice limits the response of peers where feelings and personal friendships are on the line- it’s brilliant really, so long as that foot soldier can build a connection with the mass audience they’ve enjoyed with a few.
So, I waited and wondered, might someone take on this task for us? Might someone find a delicate way of saying what many of us felt welling up inside of us without it turning into some referendum on the NAR SMM personally? The answer is yes.
Rob Hahn breaks it down
As I see it, Todd’s connection to the community, his stature within the community, and his credibility with the community are all assets to be used by the organization. In fact, those reasons contributed to why Todd was hired in the first place to be the Social Media Manager.
Putting Todd’s standing at risk in the community, therefore, is counterproductive for NAR. It decreases the value of Todd Carpenter to NAR, and prevents him from being able to fulfill his core mission of bringing the organization closer to its stakeholders.
In the instant case, I think NAR made two mistakes. read it all
Ken Brand
May 11, 2009 at 8:04 pm
I left this comment on Rob’s site. Don’t know if it’s bad form to post it here too…if it is , my bad….better to ask for forgiveness than permission?
Yeah Brilliant reads right.
It’s all fascinating and it’s all uncharted. Everyone is learning on the fly.
Social Media for some like a Zappos is a bit different than an ginormous trade association. If you don’t like Zappos products, service or conversation, you can vent and vote by buying from someone else. If you don’t like your trade association, you can’t just join another, you have to fight, persuade, rally, protest, influence, lobby, etc. With NAR most issues, because they involve money and livelihood, are emotionally charged and there isn’t the same pressure release of competition and voting with your wallet.
I would say, that at least NAR hired an SM person. I’ve never spoken to Todd, but I’ve read him and I believe he’s smart, he knew it would be a challenging and he accepted. I believe he and NAR hope to influence positive things for NAR and the membership. In my opinion, we’re (membership) better off now and in the future with Todd in his role. But it’s a rocky road for everyone, cool heads, candid conversation, resolve and open minds will mold the future…which nobody’s crystal ball can predict around the corner pitfalls, waterfalls and landfalls.
Now my comment reads like War and Peace too. Bottom line, it’s all new, keep cool, be firm, learn and push-pull-firmly forward.
Todd Carpenter
May 12, 2009 at 8:52 am
I would encourage you to post comments in Rob’s thread, I’m not subscribing to this one. As I said there, you won’t see me working in this capacity in the future. I specifically told NAR that would be a mistake when I interviewed for the job. But it’s all about baby steps.
Missy Caulk
May 14, 2009 at 9:22 pm
Benn, I read Rob’s blog today, I think I left a comment…can’t remember but I did read it.