I’ve been thinking a lot about social business lately.
About what it is – broadly, focused on people (behaviours, mindsets) and organizations (culture, vision, leadership) – and about what it isn’t (an extension of, or level up from, social media).
For the past dozen years, I’ve been directly and actively involved in one way or another in social media and social business, as a consultant, as a client, as an experimenter, as an early adopter (and leaver), as an influencer, and as an implementer.
All of this has been leading me to a place where thinking, evangelisms, experiences, tools and activities can come together into a coherent singularity (for want of a better word) that makes sense, is credible and has the vitality that attracts interest, attention, desire and action from individuals in organizations looking to be the new and relevant leaders for their stakeholders over the next five-to-ten years.
That place is IBM, an organization I have long admired for its reinvention (and inventions) to make itself a new and relevant leader for business in the 21st century.
I’m thrilled to announce that I will be joining IBM next month as a Consulting Leader in the global IBM Social Consulting team based in London. This is a full-time role – I’ll be 100 percent an IBM employee – working with someone I have known for quite a while and who has planted a powerful marker firmly in the ground to herald a new, smarter way of working that brings measurable value to enterprises wherever they do business.
That someone is Andrew Grill who joined IBM in 2013 to build this team that, collectively, brings insights and opportunities to those enterprises. A crystalizing moment on my journey to this point occurred last June when I was Andrew’s guest at Wimbledon and saw at first hand the real role of social media in the broader context of social business:
[…it] opened my eyes (ears) to the importance and measurable value of the strategic use of social media where data analysis leading to valuable insights is paramount. It also demonstrated clearly to me that if you are to deploy social media in your business, you really must have the right skilled and talented people who can measure it and interpret outcomes – the missing link I see too often in some companies large and small.
Two years ago, Andrew and I had a terrific 20-minute conversation about social business in an FIR interview, one of the business podcasts I co-founded in 2005 (and stepped down from recently). Everything we discussed then about social business is still totally relevant today. Listen for yourself:
And so I’m looking forward to walking through the doors at IBM’s offices on the south bank of the river Thames in London on January 4, 2016, to meet all my new colleagues (including long-time friend Silvia Cambie who joined Andrew’s team in August).
I can’t wait!
(Photo at top by ralphbijker, used under CC-BY-2)
56 responses to “Changing gears with IBM”
Changing gears with IBM https://t.co/1mz1MgPXV0 https://t.co/ffSVauqdlo
Changing gears with IBM https://t.co/US3gbO1v6g
Changing gears with IBM:
I’ve been thinking a lot about social business lately.
About what it is – broadly, f… https://t.co/6rdUfbt9Ms
Hobson: Changing gears with IBM:
I’ve been thinking a lot about social business lately.
About what it is – br… https://t.co/tQ1AOUGPVK
Congratulations Neville – looks like an exciting road ahead for 2016. Have fun and look forward to reading all about it. Best, Al
Changing gears with IBM – https://t.co/gcVip4JdP8 https://t.co/kZqEOkRgmp
Breaking: Neville Hobson (@jangles) is joining @IBM! https://t.co/TG7i8ym841 cc @silviacambie @Benjamin_Kay @HarrietRuff
RT @AndrewGrill: Breaking: Neville Hobson (@jangles) is joining @IBM! https://t.co/TG7i8ym841 cc @silviacambie @Benjamin_Kay @HarrietRuff
Exciting news for @jangles. A big loss to podcasting becomes a huge gain for business. https://t.co/Itcdq6JfC2
RT @jangles: Changing gears with IBM – https://t.co/gcVip4JdP8 https://t.co/kZqEOkRgmp
RT @michael_taggart: Exciting news for @jangles. A big loss to podcasting becomes a huge gain for business. https://t.co/Itcdq6JfC2
RT @AndrewGrill: Breaking: Neville Hobson (@jangles) is joining @IBM! https://t.co/TG7i8ym841 cc @silviacambie @Benjamin_Kay @HarrietRuff
RT @AndrewGrill: Breaking: Neville Hobson (@jangles) is joining @IBM! https://t.co/TG7i8ym841 cc @silviacambie @Benjamin_Kay @HarrietRuff
Well this is exciting! https://t.co/VrrmK991Zb Welcome to @IBM Neville @jangles! Super excited to have you on the team!! #IBMer
RT @jangles: Changing gears with IBM – https://t.co/gcVip4JdP8 https://t.co/kZqEOkRgmp
RT @michael_taggart: Exciting news for @jangles. A big loss to podcasting becomes a huge gain for business. https://t.co/Itcdq6JfC2
Thrilled that my long-time friend @jangles will be joining me team at #IBM Social Consulting in January!!! https://t.co/czsCM5g4Cp #IBMer
Very excited that @jangles is coming to @IBM. Looking fwd to working and learning from such a respected colleague https://t.co/EiigBSNgTR
RT @AndrewGrill: Breaking: Neville Hobson (@jangles) is joining @IBM! https://t.co/TG7i8ym841 cc @silviacambie @Benjamin_Kay @HarrietRuff
Congratulations on returning to the corporate world Neville. I’m sure you and Andrew will do great things at IBM.
Changing gears with IBM https://t.co/SdDYBjkyml – speaking as an ex-IBMer, good move @jangles
Changing gears with IBM – @AndrewGrill https://t.co/ooyfQXRBAr via @newsle
So many kind words to my news today. Thank you all! https://t.co/1mz1MgPXV0
Wow big news
And congrats to @jangles Changing gears with IBM – https://t.co/x21M1N6Cqu
Wonderful news, congratulations Neville!
Good move #IBM https://t.co/Wf1RiSZurG
Changing gears with IBM https://t.co/NeeYHIv7bw via @jangles
RT @jangles: So many kind words to my news today. Thank you all! https://t.co/1mz1MgPXV0
Changing gears with IBM – https://t.co/sUfTu7spKg https://t.co/GoBSpD9fG8
RT @Benjamin_Kay: Very excited that @jangles is coming to @IBM. Looking fwd to working and learning from such a respected colleague https:…
RT @beaservices1: Good move #IBM https://t.co/Wf1RiSZurG
Oooh… an unexpected but very interested development @jangles is moving to @IBM
https://t.co/TnhJ0YMsJc good luck!
RT @haydens30: Oooh… an unexpected but very interested development @jangles is moving to @IBM
https://t.co/TnhJ0YMsJc good luck!
Congrats Neville! Exciting new opportunity. Good luck!
RT @michael_taggart: Exciting news for @jangles. A big loss to podcasting becomes a huge gain for business. https://t.co/Itcdq6JfC2
Congratulations @jangles on your new gig with IBM https://t.co/xjPL8ErX0K via @jangles
Changing gears with IBM https://t.co/Hhur2Ez05i >All the best to @jangles #comms
RT @AndrewGrill: Breaking: Neville Hobson (@jangles) is joining @IBM! https://t.co/TG7i8ym841 cc @silviacambie @Benjamin_Kay @HarrietRuff
Great to hear @jangles coming on board #IBM & a trip to @wimbledon “A crystalizing moment” https://t.co/PmoqU4xKmV https://t.co/LiCNOuLzRp
Congrats Neville. IBM is a smart organization that continues to innovate. A great fit. :)
RT @sam_seddon: Great to hear @jangles coming on board #IBM & a trip to @wimbledon “A crystalizing moment” https://t.co/PmoqU4xKmV https://…
Changing gears with IBM https://t.co/CUeWmC9sOD
Changing gears with IBM https://t.co/3Fu6biBx55 via @jangles joining an #innovative team @jangles
RT @sam_seddon: Great to hear @jangles coming on board #IBM & a trip to @wimbledon “A crystalizing moment” https://t.co/PmoqU4xKmV https://…
Huge congratulations, Neville. You must be thrilled!
@simonlporter just this :) https://t.co/1mz1Mgyn3s
Former @FIR co-host @Jangles joins @IBM Social Business. Great moves for both Neville and the company https://t.co/400xjIZpe4
RT @pgillin: Former @FIR co-host @Jangles joins @IBM Social Business. Great moves for both Neville and the company https://t.co/400xjIZpe4
Changing gears with IBM – https://t.co/ZMt8Z72pRa https://t.co/i2W8RXI19Z
Changing gears with IBM https://t.co/2swPMJme7R
Neville, count my ears among those hoping to hear @jangles create a resonating voice for IBM’s social media for business.
Congrats, Neville. All the best on your new adventure :)
I just realized I hadn’t responded or left a comment here to any of your excellent comments. Not joined the conversation, as it were. So, on the day before I start with IBM, let me just say thank you to everyone. I appreciate your warm wishes.
I always believe life is an adventure with different journeys forming part of the overall expedition. Jan 4, 2016, marks the start of my latest stage in that expedition. I’m ready for the next chapter in the adventure!
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