I just watched this TED presentation by co-founder of Twitter, Evan Williams.

His final statement, for me, sums up the new world of business thinking. In this new world, business leaders are learning to ‘let-go’ of control and view consumers as not only users, but as ‘shapers’ and co-developers’ of new ideas and services/products.

“I have no idea what will happen next with Twitter … but I’ve learned to follow the hunch and never assume where it will go.” Evan Williams. 2009 TED Conference.

Evan also said …

“It seems like when you give people easier ways to share information … more good things happen.” Evan Williams. 2009 TED Conference.

This is yet another example of what can happen when we lead by providing simpler ways of communicating with each other … and then letting large numbers of people ‘self organise’ and ‘make it up’ as they go along. At our core, I think people like to help each other out and use tools like Twitter to make the world a better place. Twitter makes the interactions and conversations between people more interesting as they can can share what is happening around them in ‘real time’.

“Twitter is now used by people to not only communicate with friends and family, but also to help each other out”

“When the wildfire broke out in San Diego, people (and authorities) turned to Twitter to find out (and provide updates) what was happening.”

So how else can we use Twitter to CrowdSource … and therefore shape it’s evolution?

1. Provide delegates at any given conference a mobile device and a Twitter feed to other delegates. Quickly train them in how to use it and encourage them to say what is happening (or being discussed) in real time. This could help people link up with others who share similar ideas and provide a way of working out where the most exciting conversations are happening.
2. Provide participants in projects some basic training in how to use it. If they are participating in your project to learn how to live more sustainably, we can connect them to each other during the life of the project. This provides a simple way of connecting participants to each other (outside the face to face workshops/gatherings) and provides more opportunities for participants to influence and emulate each other.
3. Like is already happening, Twitter could be used by authorities to update communities about real time events such as Cyclones and Bush Fires … and communities can use it to help keep each other informed about what is going on. Like this example of road closures in Canada – http://chriscorrigan.com/parkinglot/?p=1860
4. We have a music festival happening in Aireys Inlet (http://www.aireysinlet.com.au/music/) this weekend, imagine if the punters were on twitter! They could provide an up to date dialogue what what they were seeing and hearing … post photos and video clips of performances. People from all over the world could plug into the Twitter feed and see/hear what is happening

what else?

Geoff