At a minimum, Part 1: Curiosity

What do we all need to know in order to survive, or perhaps thrive in today's interactive, digital culture?

After all, successful ideas are predicated on creators, facilitators and audiences speaking a common language.

"...there have been a number of times where I've found myself explaining things that I haven't thought to have to explain before... there must be some level of digital fluency that I am assuming..."

(I'll attribute the quote shortly.) Is it acceptable for business and government leaders to be less than fluent, even tech illiterate now? In the wake of Healthcare.gov, never mind daily interactions, I wonder what we should be able to expect of each other in the realm of tech comprehension.

Almost three years ago I surveyed my network to understand how they defined "the modern creative director." The final question, "what skill do you lack?" elicited a general yearning for greater digital fluency.

So where are we at? The online banner ad will soon be 20 years old. Facebook will celebrate its 10th birthday early next year. Interactive is mainstream marketing.

I turned again to my network and asked: What's the minimum level of digital fluency we should expect of anyone working in business today?

I'm going to publish a series of answers to this question--their generous response warrants it. The details help illuminate opportunities for growth, and expose challenges to efficiency and innovation. That earlier response ("...there must be some level of digital fluency that I am assuming...") explains why this question matters. Without a common ground, our ideas fail.

So I asked a question and received a diversity of answers. One theme prevailed among all responses. At a minimum, we expect:

CURIOSITY

I realize this is hardly surprising--unless you turn up the heat just a little. It's not enough to simply be interested. What's required of business people, artists, educators, elected officials--especially those who lead--is a "Demonstrated Curiosity" (as one of the respondents so aptly put it). Some more quotes:

"I think the main problem in marketing is that most ad guys don't get the *culture* of the web these days. They aren't participants, they are observers. It's like learning French from a textbook. You can't *know* French until you go there and *do* the language."

In the face of interactive gone mainstream, we all need to be interacting.

"You're really out to lunch if you're not intimately au fait with #Twitter #Facebook #Tumblr"

"For (a) business's particular industry, (you need) a solid understanding of the 'cost of entry' digital tools and a basic understanding of the 'differentiating' digital tools."

"...have real presences in at least a few social channels."

"Surf and read all the time, and take risks!"

At a minimum, we need you to engage. To try. To know from experience. To no longer let others do the tasting for you.

"(Digital fluency) has nothing to do with education or training. We must have a spirit of lifelong learning... (about) what’s new, what’s next and how disruptive technology and communications impact markets."

At a minimum we need your hands on, your heart in. Or as Edward Boches responded--we need you to have:

"...a relentless curiosity and open minded willingness to experiment with everything. As tech becomes the new vernaculars you can't speak or communicate without learning them. And you can only learn them by using and creating with them."

Much more on the minimum to come. Thanks again to all those who sent responses.