Real time is the new prime time for the work life revolution

Can the use of social media shine a spotlight on work life concerns and move people toward positive radical change? Ask Her Majesty Queen Rania of Jordon. She just might say so. Queen Rania describes herself on Twitter as, “a mum and a wife with a really cool day job.”  This past December at Le Web, the international technology conference in Paris, Queen Rania explained, “Real Time is the new Prime Time.” She made the comment while speaking about the use of social media to launch social change and awareness. Her presence on social media sites such as Twitter, (@QueenRania) earned her YouTube’s Visionary Award. “A monarch with a mission,” she commented magnified by more than a million Twitter followers.

Washington is not aflutter on work life issues

Queen Rania is known for her social activism in her quest to break down cultural stereotypes and champion education. So I ask – why not use social media more effectively to cause a Tsunami of discussion on more effective work life policy, legislation, practices, and initiatives? Some may argue it’s already happening. Look at the impact of A Woman’s Nation, the project by Maria Shriver and the Center for American Progress.  It spurred discussion, and it grew legs because of its on-line efforts. The message was dispersed in real time across a number of media platforms.

The fuel for changing work life policy must emerge from that type of grassroots level or miraculously come from companies which understand the value of their human capital – people – in the workplace. And the message needs to happen consistently, authentically and across all social media platforms in real time. A seemingly impossible feat in our 24/7 world, but a necessary one that can be effective when messages go viral and generate buzz. I’m not holding my breath for family leave, paid leave, paid sick leave or the Healthy Families Act to gain traction in a Washington that is still bickering over health care reform.

Using social media to change the work life narrative

Conversation on work-family conflict is stirring on-line, but it has not even approached critical mass. The narrative around work life issues is still finding its voice. But I’m inspired by Queen Rania, who had this to say at the Le Web conference:

“Today we have the world at our fingertips, not as it was 5 days, or 5 days or 5 minutes ago, but as it is right now….the web is more human than ever before as we life stream the details of our lives existence.”

The Queen Mum added, “digital advocacy could translate to analog action.” Her Majesty claims we’re at the tipping point because networks like Twitter are inherently change agents as a , ” source for news, a  platform to collaborate, and a mouthpiece to mobilize.” Case in point – the worldwide reaction to the earthquake in Haiti.  Didn’t social networks move people to action?

However,  for real change to occur, history often shows us the audience must be involved at the tipping point of chaos to engage. For example, Decades of corruption and poverty in Haiti apparently wasn’t enough for the world to take action. It took an earthquake to pay attention.

Work Life Reform

Statistics support the case to reform work life practices. Better flexibility for example, can boost employee engagement and productivity. But such talking points need to be articulated not just in a press release, but through human dialogue. We need to put a human face to the work life bubble which is about to burst, from the employee AND the employers perspective.

We need a new “real time” narrative. When the human component enters the viral webisphere it brings new believable voices to the forefront, sparks conversation and galvanizes a group with an emotional human bent that can hit home without entering into victim mode.

Perhaps the tipping point is here. The perfect storm has arrived with women now encompassing more than half the workforce, men just as concerned with work life conflict as women and companies still pulling back on hiring as they live in the shadows of fear they’ll be legislated into submission. Grab a Twitter handle and speak your mind. Someone has to budge, and it ain’t gonna be Washington.

Click here to watch Queen Rania’s address at Le Web.