What marketers and company leaders can learn from Egypt.
The power of social media has never been so evident or powerful as the current Egypt situation proves. This I didn't realize the uprising was just about 100% due to social media. For a great overview, 60 minutes ran a piece titled "Wael Ghonim and Egypt's New Age Revolution Wael Ghonim and Egypt's New Age Revolution" which is a fascinating look at how it happened from the person at the center of the revolution. My post today is a little off my usual topics to encourage viewing the interview as it's a fascinating story on how social media empowered people to oust their leader.
The situation is a case study in social media. We hear stories of companies improving customer service and products due to social media pressure. This is the first time that I am aware of social media facilitating and enabling the overthrow of a leader. Company leaders and Presidents should take note: could this happen to a company leader? Wall Street and Boards of Directors can oust a CEO. Now can the employees? Customers? I don't know of an example yet where that has happened but would love to know if there is a documented case.
Today's world is about transparency. No longer can companies squash bad publicity or bad leaders. So what's the point? I think it's about doing the right thing, being ethical and straight up. Bad leaders and jerks can't hide and cover their a-- for long. Eventually they have to face the music.
What do you think?
Jackie
Posted by Jackie Kuehl at 2/14/2011 6:24 PM 
Categories: social marketing, social media best practice, social media, twitter marketing
Tags: case study in social media leadership strategies
Categories: social marketing, social media best practice, social media, twitter marketing
Tags: case study in social media leadership strategies
CEO's COULD be ousted by a revolution, but I don't think enough people could be engaged or as passionate as the situation in Egypt. Customers and employees also don't have enough direct leverage on the board to make such a change...it could only happen based on the negative press and PR placing pressure on the board to make a change. It could be "crowd-sourced" but would take a leader to rally the "troops". Having said that, boards and CEO's need to learn from Egypt and understand its a different world out there now, and they had better be tuned into what their constituencies need and want, or their business will be affected.
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