HERE IS THE INSIDE SCOOP OF WHAT THIS ACTUALLY MEANS !

Each of these networks create user notifications, sharing links and likes and dislikes. Making it easy for those who subscribe to stay informed immediately if anything is happening on their personal network. What a perfect way to keep users connected and informed and social.

http://www.comscore.com/Press_Events/Press_Releases/2011/10/Social_Networking_On-The-Go_U.S._Mobile_Social_Media_Audience_Grows_37_Percent_in_the_Past_Year

RESTON, VA, October 20, 2011 – comScore, Inc. (NASDAQ: SCOR), a leader in measuring the digital world, today released results of a study on mobile social media usage based on data from its comScore MobiLens service, which showed that 72.2 million Americans accessed social networking sites or blogs on their mobile device in August 2011, an increase of 37 percent in the past year. The study also provided new insights into how mobile users interact with social media, finding that more than half read a post from an organization, brand or event while on their mobile device.

“Social media is one of the most popular and fastest growing mobile activities, reaching nearly one third of all U.S. mobile users,” said Mark Donovan, comScore senior vice president for mobile. “This behavior is even more prevalent among smartphone owners with three in five accessing social media each month, highlighting the importance of apps and the enhanced functionality of smartphones to social media usage on mobile devices.”

More than Half of Mobile Social Networkers Access Sites on a Near Daily Basis

In August 2011, more than 72.2 million people accessed social networking sites or blogs on their mobile device, an increase of 37 percent from the previous year. Nearly 40 million U.S. mobile users, more than half of the mobile social media audience, access these sites almost every day, demonstrating the importance of this activity to people’s daily routines.

Research also indicated that although more people accessed these sites via their mobile browser, the social networking app audience grew five times faster in the past year. While the mobile browsing social networking audience grew 24 percent to 42.3 million users in the past year, the mobile social networking app audience surged 126 percent to 38.5 million.

TRAINING ON THE GO !

Here is the Link – http://www.trainingmag.com/article/talent-tips-training-go

What a pleasure it was to be interviewed by an industry expert like Roy Saunderson of Real Recognition Radio. Michael Kroth and I ( David Clemons ) had an opportunity to record a session with his webinar group and be featured in the TrainingMag.com magazine.

The article is only a slice of our hour long webinar with Roy – but it rings in true harmony of what and how Michael and I share and work toward in getting the message out! Managing the Mobile Workforce (McGraw-Hill) has a collection of 40 interviews and the inside track on management / leadership and the mobile workforce.

Here is the article -

Talent Tips: Training on the Go

Mobile learners appreciate good-quality content designed to save them time and that provides immediate accomplishments in small chunks.

Article | Fri, 10/07/2011 – 01:00

By Roy Saunderson, President, Recognition Management Institute

Are we ready to train employees through iPods? Some organizations already do so with great success. Yet there are important principles to consider in getting mobile learning right.

In the fast-moving world we live in, we stay connected through a growing number of mobile devices we’re glued at the hip to. Now imagine having training follow you around and be available whenever you are ready to learn.

That’s what employees at Homewood Suites by Hilton (one of the two, extended stay brands of Hilton Worldwide) do. When changes were made to their food and beverage items, Dawn Koenig, vice president for Brand Performance Support, knew there had to be an easier way to get employees to learn and implement these innovations.

Whether assembling new displays for various hot and cold zones for food and beverages or simply refreshing areas with a variety of menus and displays to keep a fresh look for extended stay guests, the 10-, 15-, or 20-minute videos are just the trick.

General managers keep the iPods and loan them out library-fashion to employees to view the brand-standard videos. Skill tests are presented in Q&A quiz format with results recorded through Hilton’s proprietary Hilton University learning management system.

Unfamiliar with an iPod? Homewood Suites learning specialists send out clear and easy-to-follow instructions for using an iPod, which has won over all generations of learners. And the highly visual content allows for easy multiple language voice-over adaptation, similar to onscreen instruction for aircraft passenger safety.

The best comment Koenig has heard from employees is they feel they’re “in charge of [their] own learning.” No supervisor looking over their shoulder, and they can learn on their own time and in their own place.

David Clemons, the chief mobile officer of LearnCast.com and Achieve Labs, and Michael Kroth, associate professor of Adult/Organizational Learning and Leadership at University of Idaho–Boise Center, have some valuable pointers on mobile learning gleaned from their research and authoring of “Managing the Mobile Workforce”:

1.Create highly focused content. Faced with workload and general day-to-day distractions, instructional designers must use quality content without wasting a second of precious on-the-move time. One effective approach is the “One Mobile Minute” rule. Remember to keep the information mapping to not more than four to seven items; fewer is better. If your learner can read it, watch it, and feed it back in less than three to five minutes, you have done a great job designing your mobile learning program. You can combine several of these learning modules—each with a specific learning objective and sub-objectives—to create a 15- to 20-minute lesson, or even longer, that your workforce will use as it has time available.

2. Be mobile accessible. The iPod is just one learning device workers can use. A company needs to think through all available options learning can be provided through, including the Apple iPod, iPhone, or iPad; Motorola Droid or Xoom Tablet; Cisco Cius; and HP Touch—all will be used by mobile workers, along with their primary laptop and desktop. Set up the learning offering to include the widest, device-agnostic solution—meaning a solution that doesn’t favor any particular device. If you want to motivate every employee, create a strategy that includes everyone right from the beginning. Develop content that can be viewed on any device and that creates an environment where people love to work, want to be connected, and will continue to learn because it is mutually beneficial for the organization and the employee.

3. Make the learning stick. The “training glue” that bonds the mobile workforce with the learning content is the continued connection among peers, managers, and the company. Have managers set clear expectations face to face ahead of time and encourage learning before employees engage online. Ensure real-time feedback and discussions are encouraged through the devices and in person. Employees share personal stories, pictures, and events through social media. Why not build a mobile learning community where learning and sharing is ongoing?

Mobile learners appreciate good-quality content designed to save them time and that provides immediate accomplishments in small chunks. Keep it short, but use all the media—video, audio, exercises, simulations, games, etc.—to “show” and not just “tell” how work can be done and skills developed.

Roy Saunderson is author of “GIVING the Real Recognition Way” and president of the Recognition Management Institute, a consulting and training firm specializing in helping companies “get recognition right.” Its focus is on showing leaders how to give real recognition to create positive relationships, better workplaces, and real results. For more information, contact mailto:RoySaunderson@Rideau.com or visit http://www.RealRecognition.com.

This live presentation was viewed live today by HUNDREDS of people! I can not wait to do this for thousands, with Michael.

Its interesting what I learned today. What I learned from Michael, from the the SHRM managers and the attendees of the program is something to value. I feel fortunate I was present – that is for sure.

The link to view our presentation outline is here – http://www.shrm.org/multimedia/webcasts/Pages/0911virtual.aspx

I really appreciate that SHRM recognised our passion – our book and that we both like to present and always have a great time doing it. Thank you again!

Here is a partial summary of the SHRM web page that featured us today ;

Building a mobile workforce can be a competitive advantage for your company. Do you have job alternatives that will appeal to workers of the 21st century? Does your corporate strategy envision a mobile workforce? Are you prepared to lead one? Do you have the capability to find, get, keep, and support mobile workers?

In this 90-minute program, David Clemons and Michael Kroth, co-authors of Managing the Mobile Workforce (McGraw-Hill), will share what organizational and HR leaders need to know to create healthy, highly motivating environments for mobile workers. They will talk about presence — reducing the distance between the manager and mobile workers, motivating distance workers and paradigms of the mobile workforce. The program will look at how HR can play a vital role in building virtual teams and creating performance management systems that make sense for mobile workers.

About the speakers: David Clemons (top) and Michael Kroth are authors of the book, Managing the Mobile Workforce: Leading, Building, and Sustaining Virtual Teams, published by McGraw-Hill. Follow their blog at managingthemobileworkforce.com/blog. David Clemons has provided 20 years of executive leadership and innovation to the digital education industries. His experience has focused mainly on the global enterprise online learning space. Mr. Clemons is well known for his position as president of LearnKey Inc, a Utah based E-learning company and today is known as the creator of Achieve Labs Inc. He also founded LearnCast Mobile Publishing System. Mr. Clemons speaks nationally and internationally on mobile trends, mobile adoption, enterprise mobile workforce innovation, and leadership. Currently he lives and works in Eagle, Idaho, as a true mobile worker, employing a large “mobiForce” including international partners and content specialists.

Michael Kroth, Ph.D., is an Associate Professor at the University of Idaho-Boise. As a long time internal consultant he developed and administered corporate-level leadership development and succession planning programs, has been the administrator of a corporate foundation, and served as a director of corporate community affairs. He is the Leadership Field Editor for ASTD’s In-Practice on-line newsletter and a member of the National Speakers Association. Dr. Kroth is also a member of the National Speakers Association.

Michael Kroth and I are both very excited to be part of the Brilliant Results team as featured authors and appreciate the feedback and comments from everyone. Our special thanks go out to the staff at Brilliant Results Magazine.

This article is a good story and overview of what Michael and I share during our workshops and speeches. We have a great time presenting this information around the planet!

For more information Tweet us , or write us a note :

David@LearnCast.com

Send a text message to 878787 – message “clemons”

Inc Magazine recently published an article How to Manage a Virtual Sales Force, ( Click Link to read) . Both Michael Kroth and I were interviewed by  Eric Markowitz, who  is an assistant producer at Inc.com. He writes about start-ups, entrepreneurs, and issues that affect small businesses. He lives in New York City.

Our book Managing the Mobile Workforce ( McGraw-Hill ) has opened many new opportunities for Michael Kroth and I to  present our findings of our book and advice to managers who need to find leadership and technology solutions for their virtual teams.  We have had many opportunities with many Fortune companies and smaller organizations providing workshops and interviews, blogs, training and specific presentations to the executive groups that are investing in their mobile workforce. Additionally, we have a secondary offering of tools and training for publishing mobile content, training and mobile learner engagement to many of our new clients, with LearnCast.com ( Mobile Publishing Platform for Enterprise Mobile Workforce)

We greatly appreciate this type of exposure and everyone who has supported this project. Michael Kroth is an incredible Co-Author and friend that brings his deep knowledge,  brain power strength and creativity to our project as a “Thought Leader” inside of the Virtual workforce. He believes passion in the workplace is needed and the secret to a thriving work environment.

We believe this is only the start of a very good opportunity for us and every enterprise manager that finds herself, himself asking how they are going to pull together the right mix of “metaskills”, managers that understand the mobile workforce needs quality support,  and technology that brings a team together. Just remember that “TRUST” is the real glue that bonds the Mobile Workforce together.

David Clemons – Founder, Co-Author , Chief Mobile Officer

Today at 10:00 Pacific Time : Voice of America and the hosts of Recognition Radio will feature Clemons / Kroth authors of Managing the Mobile Workforce.

To listen :

We will also post this on the radio section of our site with a listen now link.

“In the realm of more targeted authoring tools, I had the chance to play around with a platform called LearnCast. It’s designed to allow people to create educational content – including video, audio, and interactive elements – that’s compatible with any mobile platform”.

I appreciate all of the people who attended our workshop. We feel we have made a few fans and a few new friends, it was a great experience for me as a presenter, I learned alot preparing for this workshop and appreciate the feedback I received.

Actual link to Scatter / Gather

http://scattergather.razorfish.com/944/2011/02/19/icc-day-2-what-we-heard/

To view the Huffington Post:  Rethink Workplace Flexibility

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/brett-caine/rethink-workplace-flexibi_b_822827.html

We had a few minutes to talk about our book Managing the Mobile Workforce, answering questions like; why business leaders should read our book and what were the most important ideas and concepts we learned in interviewing 40+ global companies.

To VIEW this presentation you can view HERE – http://www.ktvb.com/video/its-your-business/Its-Your-Business—Managing-the-mobile-workforce-114951904.html

It was a surprise  when Michael Kroth zapped me with a text message that said something like “YAAAAHOOOO! We are on the Top 5 of BNET” . It’s wonderful to have professional groups like BNET recognize the effort we put into this project; months of interviews and writing, editing, meetings and relationship building with global experts – but it is worth it!

For me it is the relationships we build along the way and WHAT we learn in the process. It is amazing.

The great staff at McGraw-Hill are also pleased to see the book receive this attention, they worked hard to make this book a possible “Best -seller”. We appreciate them as well.

Wayne Turmel is obsessed with helping organizations and their managers communicate better, even across cyberspace. He’s a writer, a speaker, the president of Greatwebmeetings.com, and the host of one of the world’s most successful business podcasts, The Cranky Middle Manager Show, where he helps listeners worldwide deal with the million little challenges and indignities of being a modern manager. His book 6 Weeks to a Great Webinar: Generate Leads and Tell Your Story to the World is the leading web presentation book on Amazon.com. Follow him on Twitter @greatwebmeeting.

Managing remote teams is not brain surgery, but neither is it natural for many people. First, you have to understand how to be a good manager. That eliminates an unholy number of people to start with. Then you have to demonstrate the leadership and communication skills via technology. That’s just an added layer of complexity.

Thousands of you enjoy this blog, and we’re grateful, but let’s not forget the good old book as a valuable tool. Here are 5 books I’ve found are both informational AND practical–not an easy combination to come by.

1. Where in the World is My Team? Terence Brake has created one of my favorite books in one of my least favorite formats- the business novel. Normally these are written with a copy of Joseph Campbell in one hand and the 7 Habits in the other. Instead, this is a humorous, realistic look at one man’s struggle to get all the practical information he can gather for his boss while the clock ticks down. It’s particularly good when talking about the challenges of international teams.
2. Virtual Team Success by Richard Lepsinger and Darleen DeRosa does a nice job of laying out the 4 pitfalls of remote and virtual teams (lack of clear goals or priorities, lack of clear roles between teammates, lack of communication and trust, and lack of engagement) as well as 6 lessons learned from their research. The research is current and the authors lay out not only the lessons learned, but (mostly) practical ways to implement them on your team.
3. Uniting the Virtual Workforce: Transforming Leadership and Innovation in the Globally Integrated Enterprise (Microsoft Executive Leadership Series)  Karen Sobel Lojeski and Richard Reilly Don’t let the imposing title throw you off. Maybe Microsoft’s books are like their code: functional but denser than they should be. At any rate, Karen Sobel Lojeski has uncovered a concept she calls “virtual distance” which is really a simple idea ( that not coincidentally matches what we’ve been saying in this blog for a year now). Remote teams function exactly the same way as co-located teams. Distance is no excuse and sharing a cube farm is no guarantee that your team will be more functional than a remote workforce. It takes work.
4. Mastering Virtual Teams:Strategies, Tools and Techniques That Succeed by Deborah Duarte and Nancy Tennant Snyder contains worksheets and tables that you can use to assess your team and implement ideas. It also contains an evenhanded look at some of the technology solutions available, although the challenge with hard copy books is that the technology changes faster than the books can be updated.
5. Managing the Mobile Workforce: Leading, Building and Sustaining Virtual Teams by David Clemons and Michael Krothhas lots of great research. If you like your examples from top executives (admittedly I’m not one of those who thinks being a CEO gives you more credibility than a line manager but many people do) and thought leaders like Joel Barker and Stephen M. R. Covey, you’ll enjoy this book. It has good research.

What all these books have in common is the belief that first we have to develop good communication and trust for remote teams to function well, and the technology comes second.

What are some of your favorite books for remote teams. I’d love to see the discussion thread fill up with suggestions. Have at it.