February 15, 2005

When Corporate Board Members Blog

Corporate Board Member, a magazine for, uh, corporate board members, has an interesting look at the growth of blogging by corporate directors.

John Patrick (patrickweb.com), an Internet technology expert who sits on the boards of Jupitermedia and Opera Software, an Oslo browser company: "If you wouldn't say something in public, then don't say it in your blog - because blogging is public."

What else should directors know about blogs? "I don't see it as the role of the board member to be blogging," says Dyson. But "it's useful for board members to be reading the company blogs. They shouldn't be discouraging blogs on principle." Patrick agrees that directors should be conscious of what’s going on in the blogosphere - especially what employees are saying. "Board members need to be aware that this is a major new method of communication,” he says. "At the board level, companies should think about whether they have an acceptable-use policy for use of the Internet. Many do, but I'm sure many don't."

A question for the folks at Corporate Board Member: Why don't you have a blog? You should. I pass your offices every day on my way to work. I'd be glad to stop in one day and help you get started. You might also want to send someone to attend the big BlogNashville conference in early May.