Rethinking Podcasting
I've begun to rethink podcasting. In a recent NetSpeed Leadership newsletter article focused on change, I made the statement, “My least favorite innovation is podcasting and, okay, I'll admit that I don't understand how anyone can learn anything by listening to an audio feed. I saw an article in the newspaper this week that featured podcasting as a way for personal fitness trainers to provide an exercise program directly through their customers' headphones. It's the first application of this technology that I've found remotely useful because it occurs at a moment of need when the listener is motivated to listen.”
There's nothing like making an observation like that to activate a few brain cells. I've been reading articles, taking a webinar, and paying attention to Gen X and Y types around me with "buds" in their ears and iPods in their hands. On an airplane trip, I sat next to two 30-year old store managers from Starbucks and peppered them with questions about how they learned to manage the associates in their stores. They both had iPods which they listen to when they are working in the back room of the store doing administrative tasks. They told me that they've been to classroom training sessions and learned effective management techniques; yet when situations arise in the store which may require coaching an employee, for example, they just blunder through trying to remember and apply what they learned weeks or months earlier.
My lightbulb moment was realizing that this is perfect podcasting opportunity. We could provide audio content after a workshop at the moment that someone needs a refresher. The NetSpeed Leadership system already includes an electronic magazine and other online reinforcement tools. Why not add an on-demand feature like podcasting? So I'm digging in now working to figure out how to make this happen by the end of 2006. One of the resources I'm checking into is Andy Wibbel's Podcasting Bootcamp.
As the baby boomers begin to retire in the coming years, it's the Gen Xers and Gen Yers that will step into the management roles. I have to remind myself that these folks are accustomed to getting information through PDAs and iPods. They learn contextually and welcome getting what they need in bite-sized chunks on demand.
As a baby boomer (a young one) I'm proud to tell you that last night I tried my own MP3 player for the first time. As I drove to my appointments today, I practised my rusty conversational Spanish while listening to Spanish lessons downloaded from the Internet. Once I get the hang of this learning modality myself, I'll see how I can translate it (no pun intended) to supporting the application of solid leadership skills.
Check out this article about podcasting on wikipedia.
Comments
Cindy, thanks for this reminder about the different ways different generations access and take in information. Inspired by our recent conversation, I too have been thinking about podcasting. It's difficult for me, though, to fathom how information on business WRITING can be processed AURALLY. Any ideas?
Good luck with your Spanish!
Posted by: Lynn Gaertner-Johnston | May 23, 2006 06:05 AM