5 Ways Clarity Can Replace Control

by Lindy Dreyer on October 7, 2009

Clay Shirky: Here comes everybody!It’s one of the things Clay Shirky said at ASAE09–control is a thing of the past. Clarity should be the goal for today.  Clarity and control are not new topics among some of my favorite association blogs. Still, the way Clay Shirky framed the issue was, well, very clear. Scott Briscoe talks a little about what Clay said at ASAE09 on Acronym, and I wanted to think about the practical side of it here.

Clarity takes courage. I just did what feels like my thousandth interview about the risks of social media. There is just so much fear out there. What if someone criticizes us? What if they say something that’s not true? How will we know what to do in response? Who are the right people to issue that response? These are questions driven by uncertainty and confusion, two conditions that clarity can remedy. Here are a few ideas about how…

  1. Have some conviction. Take a stand, and be willing to back it up. If you get negative feedback, consider the source. Pushing buttons isn’t a bad thing, so long as they’re the right buttons.
  2. Repeat yourself. Repeat yourself until you’re sure everyone has already heard. Then repeat yourself again. It’s your first line of defense against misinformation and misunderstandings.
  3. Be consistent. Even the best communicators need to step back and reframe their message from time to time. Persistent, long-term communication along a consistent path builds a resonant story and people’s trust.
  4. Mark out the path. Make sure your stakeholders–especially staff and volunteers–know what you’re trying to do and how they can help. This is where social media strategy, guidelines, education, and internal teamwork make all the difference.
  5. Adapt your branding. Learn to differentiate your organization’s official voice, while still accommodating your raving fans.

What other ways can clarity make a difference? I know lots of you have stories about how you’ve done some of these things. Please share them.

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29 responses to "5 Ways Clarity Can Replace Control"

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Tweets that mention 5 Ways Clarity Can Replace Control — SocialFish -- Topsy.com
October 7, 2009 at 8:29 am
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October 9, 2009 at 5:52 pm
Recent Links at Fast Wonder: Online Community Consulting
October 10, 2009 at 12:22 pm
Splash: A Blog from MemberClicks » Blog Archive » Contacts, solution, clarity
October 14, 2009 at 1:49 pm
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October 16, 2009 at 8:38 am

{ 24 comments }

maddiegrant October 7, 2009 at 12:01 pm

New post: 5 Ways Clarity Can Replace Control (http://bit.ly/Yol23) #socialfish http://bit.ly/Yol23

lindydreyer October 7, 2009 at 12:25 pm

5 Ways Clarity Can Replace Control http://ff.im/-9n9td

jamienotter October 7, 2009 at 2:08 pm

RT @lindydreyer: 5 Ways Clarity Can Replace Control http://ff.im/-9n9td <"Clarity takes courage." Awesome.>

mattfrog October 7, 2009 at 2:11 pm

RT @jamienotter: RT @lindydreyer: 5 Ways Clarity Can Replace Control http://ff.im/-9n9td <"Clarity takes courage." Awesome.>

maddiegrant October 7, 2009 at 12:28 pm

5 Ways Clarity Can Replace Control http://ff.im/-9n9Y8

SocialFishFood October 7, 2009 at 12:33 pm

5 Ways Clarity Can Replace Control http://bit.ly/4aITao
#socialfish

Sybil_B October 7, 2009 at 1:38 pm

Clarity can replace control but it takes courage. http://bit.ly/EwwEI

samueljsmith October 7, 2009 at 2:13 pm

Do you seek clarity or control? Control is gone. checkout these tips for clarity http://ow.ly/t96r [thanks @lindydreyer & @theexpogroup]

jeffgnimble October 7, 2009 at 5:51 pm

5 Ways Clarity Can Replace Control – http://ow.ly/tbUW #nimble

greggvm October 7, 2009 at 8:16 pm

"5 Ways Clarity Can Replace Control" http://j.mp/4cDWDj

Peggy Hoffman October 7, 2009 at 7:23 pm

On the mark again! And stealing from your list … repeat again #5 Adapt your branding. Learn to differentiate your organization’s official voice, while still accommodating your raving fans. If we could do just that step, we could all breath easier!

peggyhoffman October 7, 2009 at 11:24 pm

Reading: 5 Ways Clarity Can Replace Control http://bit.ly/Yol23 #socialfish yes @lindydreyer and #5 is the best

dougbladecki October 8, 2009 at 12:46 pm

5 Ways Clarity Can Replace Control http://bit.ly/vBp2n

pr_nonprofit October 9, 2009 at 11:01 pm

5 Ways Clarity Can Replace Control http://bit.ly/7cDMD #postrank #nonprofit

Pat Jones October 11, 2009 at 6:56 am

I love this post. Clarity. What a beautiful thing in a world filled with fuzziness, haziness, and “obfuscation.” Say what you mean. In simple terms. Like “Strike three!” When the umpire says “strike three!” he doesn’t need to say “you’re out!” because that’s what “strike three” means. And repeat. There is a tendency to believe that once you send the email or the letter that people KNOW. They don’t know. You have to repeat it. Like avoiding the flu. Wash your hands. Again and again. Wash, rinse, repeat. Good advice. Thanks.

maddiegrant October 11, 2009 at 4:09 pm

[MUST READ (if I say so myself)] 5 Ways Clarity Can Replace Control — SocialFish http://bit.ly/3uUPqX

zanesafrit October 14, 2009 at 2:15 pm

RT @maddiegrant: 5 Ways Clarity Can Replace Control — SocialFish http://bit.ly/3uUPqX >>Agreed. Must read post. Thanks.

jenniferbunker October 14, 2009 at 2:25 pm

5 Ways Clarity Can Replace Control in Social Media — SocialFish http://bit.ly/C23YR

xaotic October 18, 2009 at 7:05 am

synectic: 5 Ways Clarity Can Replace Control http://cli.gs/b87ht #greader

neoluk November 2, 2009 at 12:05 pm

Thanks for the posting. I really appreciate the attempt to offer people the key to defend from attacks and fear on Web. Clarity is important online as well offline and it is not always so easy to reach. Still it is very important to show people that the Internet is a very particular place, where the “good” of participants is most of the time prevailing and where they can go free of fears and prejudices and full of good will and desire to collaborate with the others. It sounds a bit strange but it is TRUE! :-)

BlackRiverBRAT November 12, 2009 at 12:23 pm

One more tidbit I picked up from another blog: don’t repeat the misinformation in an attempt to clarify. Stick with repeating the truth, as often, as firmly, and as consistently as possible. :-)

jaculynn November 13, 2009 at 7:58 pm

Yes, clarity *does* take courage -> 5 Ways Clarity Can Replace Control http://ow.ly/BXjo

GiftWorks January 7, 2010 at 2:57 pm

RT @NPnewsnetwork Good article! Clarity Over Control.5 Ways Clarity Can Replace Control http://om.ly/dqhh

glamoursmith April 7, 2010 at 7:49 pm

SocialFish: 5 Ways Clarity Can Replace Control http://bit.ly/vBp2n and Clarity and your social team: http://bit.ly/9z7Xbv – brilliant!

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