Jenna's Blog

After watching the inauguration this morning while reading tons of tweets coming in, I was pleased to be directed to the brand new Whitehouse blog. In the top post we’re told the new administration is committed to communication, transparency, and participation. Having already been impressed with the brilliant simplicity and solidity of Obama’s Web strategy, I’m not surprised. But I’m delighted, gratified to see this immediate shift in the cultural tones coming from the new leadership.

Secrecy, cover-up, and spin is so yesterday. As we talk with business people every day, many of them are stepping up to a commitment to open-ness. Some think they have to get involved with customers or they’ll miss the boat, and so they’re trying to figure out how to do it without really changing too much. Others really bring a lot of energy toward a give and take relationship with their customers. They see the cultural shift happening out there and know it implies a whole new tack; they’re up for it. Working with all of them, I’ve got a lot of respect for the changes they’re instigating in their company cultures. They may be facing a wary legal team or a skeptical executive team. They may be going out on quite a limb. But they’re going!

It’s a new day and I realize I’m just full of it (in a good way). But it’s a pure pleasure to see people taking steps toward change for the better—people in national office, and all of us out here trying to make changes in our businesses, families, worlds. Let’s all keep rooting that they (and we) can make good on a commitment to greater communication, transparency, and participation.