The Buzz 3-30-12

Our quick read on the top tweets, news, and buzz circulating in the field of changemaking this past week. Tell us, what's got you talking? And what do you want to be talking about?

• While innovation might result in new products, new technologies, and new storefronts, unless you can convince someone to use them, they may be meaningless. Ultimately, social change is about changing behavior—and Cass Sunstein and Richard Thaler believe that these behavior changes are brought about through little nudges. These small pushes allow people to gradually move along a path to much bigger change. Government is applying them to drive energy efficiency, improvements in education, and even organ donation: http://ht.ly/a0Saw

• Echoing Green Fellows, Carol Chyau and Maria So, started Shokay to support indigenous herders in rural China to generate more income, while preserving their local culture. Their products are now being sold in 100 stores in ten countries around the world. Their advice: be a detective—get your hands dirty and learn your industry; have the perspective of an eagle—collect yourself whenever your work is losing alignment with your mission; and be yourself—love what you do. http://ht.ly/a0Sek

• Creating an environment where your team feels engaged, rewarded, and recognized will only lead to more productivity and ingenuity for your organization. Above all, when your employees are happy, they’re more likely to perform better and feel better about putting in extra time when you need it. Ten ways to keep your team smiling: http://ht.ly/a0Umg

• Speaking of culture, over and over again, CEO’s are finding that culture trumps strategy when growing an innovative company. By baking it in, you’re creating an environment to help your team thrive. A few tips on how to do it well from the likes of Facebook, Foursquare, and Linkedin: http://ht.ly/a10wh

• The Sankalp Forum is one of the largest gatherings of those in the social innovation space in India. They recently conducted a landscape review of the sector across the region and discovered that while the field is new, more than 28% of India’s social enterprises are serving over 50,000 bottom of the pyramid customers. Learn more of their insights and conclusions: http://ht.ly/a1168

• Last week, President Obama named Jim Yong Kim as his nominee as the next head of the World Bank. A leader in public health, his nomination is a wonderful recognition of the tenacity social entrepreneurs bring to big problems. Even moreso, it shows that by connecting our passions with what we do each and every day can lead to big, bold change. http://ht.ly/a0UE8

• Our President, Cheryl Dorsey, recently spoke with Claudia Chan about what we look for in our Fellows and her own journey to supporting and nurturing social entrepreneurs. Her perspective on transformational leaders: they’re authentic to a fault, they refuse to accept the status quo, and they see problems as opportunities. Read more from the interview: http://ht.ly/a11ec

• Finally, we’re asking applicants for the 2012 Echoing Green Fellowship to share a Moment of Obligation. Those moments when they decided there was no turning back, they just had to do something. Will you share your moments with us, too? http://ht.ly/a0UUq