Comments on: The RSA – do you get it? http://www.matthewtaylorsblog.com/thersa/the-rsa-do-you-get-it/ Politics, brains, social action and the day to day life of the RSA’s chief executive Wed, 08 Feb 2012 12:15:48 +0000 hourly 1 By: Peter Churchill http://www.matthewtaylorsblog.com/thersa/the-rsa-do-you-get-it/comment-page-2/#comment-2503 Peter Churchill Thu, 02 Jul 2009 22:20:32 +0000 http://www.matthewtaylorsblog.com/?p=2012#comment-2503 The conversation above seems to be a (im)perfect example of what I assumed the RSA was about - CONNECTING MINDS. It is not what you might call an "expert organisation" (in the sense that professional institutes arguably are) but a group of more or less interested, intelligent, motivated, accomplished and DIVERSE individuals who have come together to find something of value and interest to them. The beauty of the RSA seems quite simply that this diversity offers the opportunity to find the unexpected (as an architect I had never heard of Web2, Ning or World Jam) and to really connect with others that are NOT in competition (as would be the case in an "expert organisation" with members all in the same field of activity). The conversation above seems to be a (im)perfect example of what I assumed the RSA was about – CONNECTING MINDS.

It is not what you might call an “expert organisation” (in the sense that professional institutes arguably are) but a group of more or less interested, intelligent, motivated, accomplished and DIVERSE individuals who have come together to find something of value and interest to them.

The beauty of the RSA seems quite simply that this diversity offers the opportunity to find the unexpected (as an architect I had never heard of Web2, Ning or World Jam) and to really connect with others that are NOT in competition (as would be the case in an “expert organisation” with members all in the same field of activity).

]]> By: Don Pinchbeck http://www.matthewtaylorsblog.com/thersa/the-rsa-do-you-get-it/comment-page-2/#comment-2457 Don Pinchbeck Wed, 01 Jul 2009 20:57:19 +0000 http://www.matthewtaylorsblog.com/?p=2012#comment-2457 It seems to me that over the years, JAS has done "big, important stuff", and Fellows have done "little stuff" or nothing. The MT initiative has triggered what I believe will be a sea change. However, I cannot see for the life of me what that new panorama will look like. Are we still for "The Encouragement of Arts Manufactures and Commerce" or "Civic Change", "Thought Leadership", "Advancing human capability so that people can thrive in the future" or what? We have left situation A as described above, but have not yet reached Situation B - the New RSA, where Fellow's views, ideas and projects are considered on a meritocratic basis, and find support at relevant levels within the RSA. Problem is, we don't seem to have decided what the RSA is going to stand for. Being between Situation A and Situation B means there is uncertainty and doubt - and those feelings are entirely normal. Until we do know what we are about - define Situation B, how can we evolve a brand?. To (mis) quote Kotler, If I were to ask you to define the brand attributes of Mercedes, you'd probably come up with expensive, well engineered, well built, durable high prestige motor cars. As a previous contributor said - it's what others think we stand for. Straplines? logos? These come much later. Surely we need to define what the new MT world of the RSA is going to do/be/achieve before we can work through Brand Attributes, Benefits, Values, Culture, Personality etc. Adviser son branding can only really help when Situation B is very clearly articulated, and the Fellowship has bought in. It's the Fellows and those in JAS that will live the brand, reinforce it or blur it. It seems to me that over the years, JAS has done “big, important stuff”, and Fellows have done “little stuff” or nothing. The MT initiative has triggered what I believe will be a sea change. However, I cannot see for the life of me what that new panorama will look like. Are we still for “The Encouragement of Arts Manufactures and Commerce” or “Civic Change”, “Thought Leadership”, “Advancing human capability so that people can thrive in the future” or what? We have left situation A as described above, but have not yet reached Situation B – the New RSA, where Fellow’s views, ideas and projects are considered on a meritocratic basis, and find support at relevant levels within the RSA. Problem is, we don’t seem to have decided what the RSA is going to stand for. Being between Situation A and Situation B means there is uncertainty and doubt – and those feelings are entirely normal. Until we do know what we are about – define Situation B, how can we evolve a brand?. To (mis) quote Kotler, If I were to ask you to define the brand attributes of Mercedes, you’d probably come up with expensive, well engineered, well built, durable high prestige motor cars. As a previous contributor said – it’s what others think we stand for. Straplines? logos? These come much later. Surely we need to define what the new MT world of the RSA is going to do/be/achieve before we can work through Brand Attributes, Benefits, Values, Culture, Personality etc. Adviser son branding can only really help when Situation B is very clearly articulated, and the Fellowship has bought in. It’s the Fellows and those in JAS that will live the brand, reinforce it or blur it.

]]> By: Why did you join the RSA? RSA-US| RSA United States http://www.matthewtaylorsblog.com/thersa/the-rsa-do-you-get-it/comment-page-2/#comment-2445 Why did you join the RSA? RSA-US| RSA United States Tue, 30 Jun 2009 13:18:46 +0000 http://www.matthewtaylorsblog.com/?p=2012#comment-2445 [...] What does RSA Fellowship mean to you?  Why is it important?  These and other provocative questions are part of a really interesting discussion taking place on Matthew Taylor’s blog, The RSA - do you get it?   [...] [...] What does RSA Fellowship mean to you?  Why is it important?  These and other provocative questions are part of a really interesting discussion taking place on Matthew Taylor’s blog, The RSA – do you get it?   [...]

]]> By: David Wilcox http://www.matthewtaylorsblog.com/thersa/the-rsa-do-you-get-it/comment-page-2/#comment-2439 David Wilcox Tue, 30 Jun 2009 09:02:23 +0000 http://www.matthewtaylorsblog.com/?p=2012#comment-2439 @joe I agree this is an issue of interest to the Fellowship council, and <a>I've posted an item</a> on our London City Network, where we have an election forum, inviting comments from candidates. Do join us there - it's open to anyone. If you are in London on Thursday evening, we have a face-to-face with candidates. Free drinks for first-comers. Details in the post. @rob I agree on the gut feeling. It's about your reaction to the whole offer and experience ... not just the strap line pushed by the brand. I don't think that sort of ad-copy approach convinces many people these days. @joe I agree this is an issue of interest to the Fellowship council, and I’ve posted an item on our London City Network, where we have an election forum, inviting comments from candidates. Do join us there – it’s open to anyone. If you are in London on Thursday evening, we have a face-to-face with candidates. Free drinks for first-comers. Details in the post.
@rob I agree on the gut feeling. It’s about your reaction to the whole offer and experience … not just the strap line pushed by the brand. I don’t think that sort of ad-copy approach convinces many people these days.

]]> By: Rob Greenland http://www.matthewtaylorsblog.com/thersa/the-rsa-do-you-get-it/comment-page-1/#comment-2438 Rob Greenland Tue, 30 Jun 2009 08:36:15 +0000 http://www.matthewtaylorsblog.com/?p=2012#comment-2438 I think the best definition of a brand - which I think is relevant here - is from Marty Neumeier's book The Brand Gap: A brand is a person's gut feeling about a product, service or company. It's not what YOU say it is. It's what THEY say it is. I like the gut feeling idea. I also like the fact that you're not in control of your brand. You do what you can do things to influence what people feel, but you can't control it. When a lot of people have the same gut feeling about you, you have what Neumeier calls a "charismatic brand" - a brand for which people think there is no substitute. I suppose the gut feeling idea chimes a bit with do you get it idea too. I've reviewed the book here: http://tinyurl.com/ploved Thanks Rob I think the best definition of a brand – which I think is relevant here – is from Marty Neumeier’s book The Brand Gap:

A brand is a person’s gut feeling about a product, service or company. It’s not what YOU say it is. It’s what THEY say it is.

I like the gut feeling idea. I also like the fact that you’re not in control of your brand. You do what you can do things to influence what people feel, but you can’t control it.

When a lot of people have the same gut feeling about you, you have what Neumeier calls a “charismatic brand” – a brand for which people think there is no substitute.

I suppose the gut feeling idea chimes a bit with do you get it idea too.

I’ve reviewed the book here:

http://tinyurl.com/ploved

Thanks
Rob

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