PRSA Philly Book Reviews discussion

Charlene Li

In this follow-up to Charlene Li and Josh Bernoff’s “Groundswell: Winning in a World Transformed by Social Technologies,” Li takes an even broader look at social media’s implications. Where “Groundswell” defined social media activity as a trend in which people use technology to get what they need from each other rather than from companies, this new volume outlines the ways in which concepts of leadership, company culture and organizational models are evolving to fit the new “open” environment created by the rise of social media. Thanks to the social media groundswell, customers and employees expect companies to open up and give them more power than they have ever had before.

Fans of Li’s earlier volume will be pleased to find that “Open Leadership” is told in the same engaging, readable style, filled with case studies that illustrate key concepts in memorable ways. The book also makes the same kind of precise, pragmatic argument that “Groundswell” did — rather than simply advocating the virtues of the new “openness,” Li takes a close look at various different areas in which companies can be open, and invites readers to assess whether or not it is appropriate for their organizations to be more or less open than they currently are in each.

Parts I and II of the book define the concept of openness and provide a method for creating an open strategy for any organization. Part III takes a close look at what it means to actually be an open leader — Li details traits and mindsets involved (including optimism, curiosity, humility, and collaboration), and four leadership archetypes to help you evaluate the degree of openness you and your colleagues currently demonstrate.

For PR pros, this book offers valuable insights towards developing your leadership style, helping your company adapt to the new open environment, and understanding the broader implications of social media.

I have been really impressed by the Altimeter Group and @jowyang and @briansolis

@jowyang 's models for organizational structure to support social media is some of the best thinking I've seen on social media management.

One of their other analysts, Susan Etlinger, has published a new report called the Framework for Social Analysis that takes this to the next level.
http://susanetlinger.wordpress.com/20...