Mila Araujo
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Mila Araujo is a Social Business Strategist, Executive Coach and Speaker; she has a diverse background in management, public relations, non-profit, and events; Mila is a contributing author for several online sites, including 12 Most, Business2Community, Winning at the Insurance Gamble, Grow, and her own blog Perspectives featured in AllTop. She's a Director of the Personal Insurance division at Ogilvy & Ogilvy, Montreal. In her previous roles, Mila organized international conferences on health care, as well as programs to promote health for seniors and children in partnership with the Government of Canada. In 2009, she worked with Modica Communications on the development of the Centre for Excellence in Corporate Social Responsibility, part of the Canadian government's Corporate Social Responsibility strategy. She’s passionate about connecting people, non-profits, employee engagement, leadership and using social tools for driving business to new levels.
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It used to be that companies looked elsewhere for "creatives", but in today's diverse workforce I believe that oftentimes we have the greatest pockets of talent right under our noses. It is a matter of opening restrictions and listening to the voices within the organization- the best ideas come from collaborative thinking and the people at the front lines. It's a wonderful time and its so nice to see leaders embracing this. Social networks have provided a huge opportunity here within the workplace as well! Thank you for taking the time to comment! So nice to meet you!
Thank you so much for taking the time to comment and also for this excellent point. There is a night and day difference between being a user of social networks and thinking about social business strategy.
Like any other business endeavour, it will be the businesses who become well informed and take the time to investigate and learn about the business aspects who will fill the roles with capable individuals. I hope information like this makes it's way ini the minds o business owners as well so they in turn may use it to evaluate where they are at and what they might need to do as well!
My latest conversation: Cultures of Success:Your Job Is to Make Me Look Good | A Two Way Street
Right on Geoff! You've perfectly completed the thought for me. We have to be able to live and work with integrity and use our expertise, by being in an environment which provides that trust we can give our best and by doing so make people "look good". There is nothing worse than being a yes man, and I am really glad you made this distinction here - it's the "yes men" that maintain status quo and never create or challenge anything. There are places for "yes men" - in a way, it's a yes man who in the end makes you look bad - ill spin this one on you- the yes men are more concerned with compliance than taking risks and driving innovation or making things better and rather than voice ideas, or opinions or create challenge (conflict) they'll just swallow their own thoughts and sell out to just "make you look good" and that's not really honourable or helpful at all. Yes men also fear change and hinder advancement.
Great point, thank you so much for taking the time to share your thoughts and for enhancing this conversation :)
Absolutely the foundation of results because without these you miss the leadership connection with people (for one) - the most important and my favorite is follow through : follow through leads to trust, trust drives so much :)
I also equally appreciate your pointing out of negativity about others, true leaders don't spend their time investing in taking people down and spreading negative comments - they spend their time trying to address behaviours for positive outcomes and results ...
It's really weak when as a person you spend your time publicly criticizing and creating chaos and division when really we should practice trying to untie and strengthen!
thanks for this great post Dan!
My latest conversation: 5 Ways to Use Video for Employee Engagement
Sara, what a fantastic article, thank you so much. It's very timely as I have been doing a lot of work on consulting for social media/social network policies (with a focus on regulated industries) and one of the things I recommend is a section about appropriate use of photography, this is a perfect compliment to drive the importance of this idea home !
My latest conversation: 5 Ways to Use Video for Employee Engagement
I truly believe that the problem is that most people don't understand it, they get involved before working out their strategy. They throw their business in and lack the deeper understanding so they then grasp blindly in the dark taking every post they read as gospel. Then once they start regurgitating the lingo they get confused because they've read all about it. Why is there no result. Or why can't they see it. How can they get it without asking for it?
News flash: you have To be able to measure and understand how you are measuring your other internal activities before you can think Of measuring ROI on online activities - it's a business function - deal with it as such.
When someone asks me how do you measure ROI first thing I ask or look to establish is how are you currently measuring and reporting on your other activities?
It's about having direction and building strategy.
My latest conversation: 5 Ways to Use Video for Employee Engagement
A beautiful post & letter Margie. Very well said.
My latest conversation: 5 Ways to Use Video for Employee Engagement
Frederic, what an interesting post. I hadn't given this very much consideration until now, but it is an excellent point! I look forward to seeing what comes of all this. Certainly the forward thinking marketers building packages early will be the ones who stand to serve the demand first- especially if alliances within service providers on this corridor form early on! Quebec has always been rich in culture this would definitely add one other strong reason for visitors to come and explore!
My latest conversation: 5 Ways to Use Video for Employee Engagement
@RicDragon Ric, it is no secret that your deep insight into branding and discussions we have had on this have really driven the depth aspect home for me, what I call the "soul" of the company/humanized brand. It's not easy to get there and I like the way you've pointed out the critical aspect of helping people get behind something - something they can understand and feel, and believe in. It's so important. Your clients are most fortunate to benefit from your insight, as am I as your friend, thank you so much for taking the time to comment :)
My latest conversation: 5 Ways to Use Video for Employee Engagement
@itsjessicann That's a great example Jessica, thank you so much for taking the time to comment! I totally agree, I just love Trader Joe's! I have to admit, I never searched for them on social sites, but given how well their stores across the country portray the same feel - they would be good candidates for a brand that shows their "soul" online by living their values through their tweets or online interaction. Can you imagine how cool their posts could be- with all that delicious content? Awesome example! Can't wait to see what they do when they take the leap onto social!
My latest conversation: 5 Ways to Use Video for Employee Engagement
Margie, This was a seriously scary list, and had lots of good reasons to floss, and floss often. :) I think these kinds of habits form in early childhood, but this sure does give everyone a great list to reinforce and go by! Thanks for keeping us all in sparkling smiles :)
My latest conversation: 5 Ways to Use Video for Employee Engagement
This is an absolutely fantastic post. I totally love the way you covered all facets of design Paul! Wonderful! Thank you,
My latest conversation: 5 Ways to Use Video for Employee Engagement
I love this post. I think it's critical for professionals who self direct work to embrace this. Unfortunately too many organizations create structures that do not allow for the respect of these productive zones and that's a whole other challenge.
I work best early in the morning (before 9) or very late at night, between 11pm and 4 am) of course these times do not in any way coincide with office life.
I think another key factor is knowing that if your productivity, creativity etc work best on off hours, then there are ways to balance time in order to maximize this - however it's dependent on the structure of the organization for which you work.
For solopreneurs this "productive time" observation can be really helpful to allow a new work structure. Too many people who work from home or on their own think they should be working from 9-5 - I think a lot of it is out of fear of not getting the work done, it then creates an issue where they are actually exhausting themselves working at half steam.
I think it's also about saying, it's okay to go for a two hour walk in the middle of the day, that's not slacking if the pay off if better health and stronger work upon return. Measure success by production not by time clocked in- that's my take. I loved this article :) thank you!
My latest conversation: 5 Ways to Use Video for Employee Engagement
An interesting post. In one of my recent posts on my blog, I talked about how people misunderstand social media. I am concerned that in this post, the "marketer" is taking over your mind... People cannot - can not - take every sentence they read literally when the read about learning how to use social media. "Don't sell, engage" - I have news for everyone here, that engagement is selling- it's selling via relationship - which means : selling by being likeable , reliable, and useful. You can post sales pitches- you're a business!!!! But do not think that using a human network to broadcast advertising is going to work. This is what all there people taking strategies too literally are missing - also why big thinkers and creatives will be more successful at social than people who like to follow the herd and tick on a mapped path.
Does social media stunt business growth? No.
Does embarking and investing energy and resources into a projet you neither understand or have the ability for (premature investment) stunt business growth? Yes.
Understand it - have a plan - get good counsel or develop expertise and frankly social media workings help businesses improve performance and become more successful by honing in in culture and values - misunderstand it and yes, you'll be throwing your money down an endless pit.
As a side note you may enjoy my discussion with @snouraini from Friday where I covered social media policy and essentially what came out of it was much of the above.
Good post Sam, beware to those who jump in without understanding I good counsel - that's where the money pit is- and it's dark.
My latest conversation: 5 Ways to Use Video for Employee Engagement
@pamelamaeross Thank you Pam! Yes, Unscripted employee conversations on video can be unpredictable, and certainly aren't the most polished, but I think it is okay to show peoples true manner and behavior and let them say things in their own words. Some of the video I have taken it completely open ended, if you will, and there are always really nice moments within. It's especially why its a really good way to be authentic online, and as you mention, it doesn't have to be shared publicly, these videos often are the most valuable to the members of the team. I think it's a win win, and I hope organizations put as much effort into their internal community building as they will on their external social strategies, as you know, it's extremely rewarding and makes work more fun. :)
@Kelly Jennex That's an excellent example Kelly! I checked out their Facebook page too, since you mentioned them, and they do a great job of providing value to their fans on the page as well as entertainment with photos and video segments, I think you are right on here, its a total brand with soul.
You can also tell just by their Facebook activity they are marrying different types of media and investing in diverse areas to reach their target market, while supporting this with their actions in their community and with the diversity and quality of their products - and I don't know if you were aware, but they also have an app that allows people to share recipes, save them. It's a feel good brand with aligned values across many platforms - you really don't get the feeling that they are selling anything on there, it's all feel good content**love it**! Fantastic Thank you!
cc @gonzogonzo
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@TedRubin @Seth Sklar it's funny, I've never really thought of that famous saying in regard to business, I suppose this is because my business style is very exploratory and scientific - but it is an especially critical and true in business when employees assume and do things wrong or skip things they really do make an ass of you and your business- another reason making sure you staff your company with forward thinking individuals so important for innovation and progress.
My latest conversation: Amazing Things Will Happen by @CC_Chapman photo by @Milaspage
Excellent post Seth! You're right on. I really enjoyed the examples - unfortunately there are far too many people who limit themselves and their companies by assuming things - in particular "things that can't work" - these are the people and companies that will limit themselves and never be outstanding because they fear risk and lack imagination and the allure of possibility. Congratulations on this excellent post!
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@gonzogonzoFrederic, thank you so much for this thoughtful comment, a great conversation starter for sure! I would in turn love to hear examples of what brands people love because of "soul".
The very first brand that comes to mind for me is David's Tea. They do an amazing job of fitting right into the consumers life with helpful information, fun posts, by paying attention and really giving. They have built a very active fan base and they have strong carry through in the stores as well.
The same feeling you get on their page, is the same energy they train their staff to portray in the stores. That's key, the philosophy , the feel: its their culture. It's not just a social strategy, it is who they ARE.
I had the pleasure of actually meeting their community manager a couple of months ago, after having already been a big fan of their approach and work. I wasn't surprised to see his approach was very much human, and real. There was no marketing jargon. He understood the company values, the culture, and that's what he carries through in his community management technique. He also works closely with his Marketing department, so this is another important aspect: they have a team working together to deliver the feel, and a hands on CEO.
They've done a brilliant job: From the HR vision, to on site sales , product development and community (both on and offline) they have a consistent and positive attitude - and deliver a top user experience every time. I think @DAVIDsTEA would agree, it's not something they only do online, what we see actually represents their entire company energy - it comes across really well through their online presence because of it. I wrote a little about what I like about them in this post: http://milaspage.com/strategy-social-media-contest-grow-followers/ However, I am thinking I may do an upcoming blog spotlighting them/community manager especially because of all this. Stay tuned :)
In a nutshell, they have soul because they have the culture across *all areas* of the company. This is what people can feel. It's natural.
How about you Frederic, have you seen any brand activity online that just resonates with you as getting it right coming across as a brand "with soul"?
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