Most everyone knows “the best-laid plans of mice and men often go awry”. At least you do if you endured John Steinbeck’s “Of Mice and Men” in high school. And just like in the novel, all great visions of Web governance have their ups and downs. Hopefully yours won’t end the same way that George and Lennie’s friendship did, and here is some food for thought to ensure you avoid such a mean finale.
- Strategy Definition and Conviction: Most Web governance initiatives are a partnership of one or more organizational departments, regardless of who sponsors them. If it is the business side, or the technical side that you belong to, clarify your strategy from the start, realizing it will likely change as you partner with others and work the change management effort process. If you are willing to fall on your sword for you think you are right about your approach or any other effort, save yourself now and get off the train.
- Support from the Top: This seems like a no-brainer to many folks, but here is where it gets tricky. You may have support from one person from the top, but you really don’t have support until that tip person either mandates that everyone else will support you or convinces their peers that they should lend you a hand. Try to adopt the mantra: You can never have enough support, and always assume that the support can be gone tomorrow (in these uncertain times, many folks are leaving organizations abruptly, self-willingly and otherwise).
- Don’t Count on Loyalty, but foster it: Our character George was a very loyal friend. While you can’t count on loyalty (especially true of organizations where there is a lot of tension between departments and perhaps even those collaboration on Web governance) try to foster a positive relationship and serve your counterparts by having their back. Someone always has to make the first gesture, and creating a level of trust and reaffirming commitment to making the initiative work is what will ultimately lead to success. For everyone, including you!
- Foster Trust and Respect: This goes hand in hand with the previous point I made. If you can foster a positive relationship with your Web governance partners, you will have a better outcome for the overall initiative, as well as each individual bit. Often, especially in highly charged situations, it is hard to stay positive and not engage into hitting that ball of insults into your opponent’s court. But really, this is Web governance we are trying to achieve. While it is nice to think that a written set of policies and operating procedures along with a mandate from the administrator will get you what you need, it is likely to result in a pile of recyclables and a dream gone by.
- Tell it Like It Is: It is tempting to spin things into a rosy scenario to keep everyone appeased. It is also much easier hide from your Web partners the harsh truth. But in the end, doing them in to protect them may be one way of interpreting loyalty, at least in literature, but seldom works well in real life, especially if you want to continue your career in your existing organization.
And there are always more considerations, but these would be my principal thoughts, at least where the immediacy of mice and men are concerned. If you want to ponder these points further, or even learn a few more, I suggest you go dig up that old copy of your Steinbeck classic and read up over the long weekend!