leadership dot #2191: embrace

As tempting as public water fountains are, many cities have long restricted people from playing in therm. After decades of fighting against the natural tendency to play in the water, cities are now encouraging it by building splash pads in parks and recreation areas. Splash pads allow children (of all ages) to gravitate toward the jets of water and play in the shooting fountains.

In a similar vein, athletic teams once attempted to restrict fans from sharing video clips or posting images to social media accounts, but now the NBA is cultivating this type of engagement. Basketball’s chief marketing officer sees social media as an opportunity and she has worked to engage people on all social channels. In addition to happy fans, the NBA has seen a rise in viewership, sponsorship and has 60+ million followers on Facebook/Twitter.

For decades, live concert performances prohibited cameras or any type of recordings, but with the proliferation of cameras on phones, some entertainers have decided to embrace the access instead of trying to restrict it. Many concerts now feature hashtags and posed photographic moments as bands encourage sharing.

Think of the behaviors that are happening in your organization that are causing you to fight a losing battle – something that is difficult to enforce and costs you good will in the process. Maybe it is prohibiting dogs on trails in your city, banning betting on sports or restricting outside food from your venue. What would be the effect if you made a splash and embraced the behavior instead?



Source for NBA information:  Most Creative People: Pam El, for scoring with NBA fans, Fast Company, Summer 2018, p. 26.