Technology is empowering people to connect and join together in new ways through social movements. Is leadership still needed for social impact? Will it just evolve naturally through unleashing the power of social movements.
Movements for Social Impact
Social movements have been touted as the great power to achieve social impact. It is common and exciting to hear today that Movements are the next ‘big thing’. The ‘#new power’ that will change the world. Why do we need leadership at all for social impact? Especially as we move into a world that seems increasingly unstable and beset by challenges on every front. If I am trying to lead surely, I am just imposing my will on people. I will be stopping the good natural stuff of movements for social impact to happen of its own accord.
But I’m also mindful that this is a narrative that seems directly being fostered by the silicon valley elite. (At the same time, we should note they have created extreme centralisation of social media on Facebook, Twitter and Google). We are told to connect and disrupt. To fight against the system with our new technology as it’s smaller, more personalised. As well as letting you connect with anyone, anywhere, instantly.
Disruption for Social Impact.
Disruption can be a powerful tool for social impact. We can use our new access to technology for ‘disruption’ to take down big organisations. Fight against the government #Disrupttheworld. But in reality, this might be little more than a self-serving narrative to take out the existing status quo. (The same technology can AND IS being used for personalised control across an entire population). There is a danger that once the existing powers have been swept aside. The same technology could be used to maintain the supremacy of the tech companies that replace them.
Social Impact Movement Failures.
However, there have been many social movements that failed to create social impact. There is a huge difference between writing posts on Twitter or Facebook and going out on being seen and heard. There have already been a litany of high profile flops. When a movement is decentralised, it may appear to be supported by a large number of click, likes and comments. But it does not automatically translate into people actually wishing to take action. To be effective movements need to manifest themselves in reality with clear messages and goals. That requires organisation and a coherent consistent vision behind the movements work.
Hope for Empowering Social Movements to Create Social Impact
Whatever the challenges, the potential for everyone to have a voice and the ability to act should not be underestimated in it’s power to create social impact. As we have seen with the movements of blacklivesmatter #MeToo and the response to the death of George Floyd. There is plenty of evidence to suggest that the new technologies, create more opportunities and ease for people to unite and act. We can get together to protest, connect in new ways and change the world. The power is in our hands, in the right hands the new technology has the potential for enormous good.
Decentralised Social Movements to Create Social Impact
The theory behind creating social impact through decentralised social movements and disruption is that it is asymmetric warfare. This pits numerous individuals against an established larger organisation. This is an unequal form of fighting designed to take out larger organisations. Weaponising: Ashby’s law of requisite variety from ecology. Ashby’s law says that for an organisation to survive, it must be capable of successfully responding to all threats in its environment. Every single last one.
Many parties attacking from different angles, is a tactic that means weak beings can take on and beat much stronger organisms. Like a large mosquito swarm killing large animals. It is a powerfully effective tactic for taking away established powers. There is no doubt social movements are a powerful force for change and we will see their social impact changing our world long into the future.
Kryptonite for Hordes
If we continue the insights from nature that swarming disruption may be the kryptonite of large organisations. In nature small decentralised structures have two big downsides. First of all, the risk of an error catastrophe. An error catastrophe is when there is too much variety and adaptability in the movement. This means that it fragments and ceases to exist as a single entity anymore. As the movement expands the ideas get changed and reinterpreted. In time losing any semblance of the original meaning and any consistency. The lack of cohesion are a compelling explanation why the occupy wall street and Arab Spring fizzled out.
There is another serious downside to decentralised swarming of social movements. It is that the selfless sacrifice of many individuals is usually necessary. Swarms can also be deadly for the participants. This may be fine for a swarm of insects. If it is your business on the line, your mental health, or your life, is that always a sacrifice worth making for every social change. Fighting climate change may be the biggest current threat to humanity and risk millions of lives. However, how many people do you know who would sacrifice their life to prevent it.
Leadership to Balance Social Impact.
Maintaining this balance in creating social impact is where there is a vital role for leadership. Not the big corporate say the ‘right things’ and ‘virtue signalling’ leadership. But the ‘frontline leader’ who can see what’s going on around them. They build relationships and connect people. They can role model co-ordinate, adapt to challenges and support. As well as take the initiative when the time comes. We all know of the stories of small little moments of truth that decide whether a movements succeed or fail.
True leadership for social impact, is through harnessing social movements. Looking after the people, uniting people behind action and empowering them. They in turn will empower, coordinate and enable the people around them. This creates a cascade of learning through our social networks. That will in turn enable social change at scale through the power of relationships.
Conclusion
Technology and social media appear to have created a rich breeding ground for social movements to create social impact. Making it easier to empower people than ever before. However, we need to be mindful that movements, do not automatically result in social change. Clicking is not action. Leadership alongside the movement is required to thrive and prosper. This leadership focus the movements efforts to stay united and builds momentum and direction for change to create social impact.
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Questions for you:
What do you think is the future of social movements?
Do you know of any great examples in your life of leadership of social movements.
Other relevant articles:
Social Projects: A Complete Guide.
What is the Best Leadership Style for Great Social Projects
Survival of the Fittest is the Wrong Route to Growth & Social Impact.