The ABCs of KM Leadership
Stan Garfield
Being an effective knowledge management leader requires three sets of specific ABCs: Attributes, Background, and Capabilities; Actions, Behaviors, and Characteristics; and Ambassador, Broker, and Collaborator. This post provides the details for each of these.
A. Attributes, Background, and Capabilities
- Attributes
- Adaptable
- Assertive
- Calm
- Client-focused
- Creative
- Collaborative
- Curious
- Dynamic
- Influential
- Personable
- Background
- Management: Supervised people, led work teams, and managed a business or functional unit.
- Project management: Successfully managed projects to meet deadlines, provide deliverables, and adhere to budgets.
- Communications: Published documents, gave presentations, and managed communications programs.
- 50 Knowledge Management Components: For many of these, performed evaluations, led implementation projects, and used them regularly.
- Reputation: Earned the respect of people both inside and outside of the organization, based on accomplishments, networking, and communications
- Capabilities
- Leadership: Able to influence others, lead work teams, and manage projects.
- Communications: Excellent at writing, speaking, presenting, and using a variety of communications vehicles.
- Process and Technology: Able to quickly learn and master a wide variety of tools and processes.
- 50 Knowledge Management Components: Expert at using many of these.
- Analysis: Able to seek input, analyze information, consider alternatives, and make good decisions.
B. Actions, Behaviors, and Characteristics
- Actions
- Articulates the end-state vision: Passionately explains what KM looks like when it is working.
- Defines compelling use cases: Convincingly communicates the advantages of using KM processes and tools over existing alternatives.
- Implements, improves, and iterates: Continuously acts to achieve the vision, with measurable progress.
- Leads by example: Regularly models knowledge-sharing behaviors and gets senior leaders to do so.
- Recognizes others: Praises, rewards, and promotes those who demonstrate the desired behaviors.
- Behaviors
- Improves business results through a knowledge-sharing culture.
- Creates, maintain, and execute the KM implementation plan.
- Implements people, process, and technology components.
- Defines KM goals, measurements, and rewards.
- Reports regularly on KM metrics.
- Manages KM projects.
- Leads the organization’s KM teams.
- Manages the organization’s KM communications.
- Actively participates in communities.
- Networks with other KM Leaders.
- Characteristics
- Passionate
- Persistent
- Persuasive
C. Ambassador, Broker, and Collaborator
- Ambassador – All three Tipping Point personality types
- Connector: Acts as a hub in social networks.
- Maven: Serves as a guru on important topics.
- Salesperson: Influences others to join and participate in KM.
- Broker
- Monitors important information sources.
- Participates in relevant communities.
- Reads key blogs and publications.
- Listens to podcasts.
- Watches videos.
- Searches effectively.
- Knows who would benefit from a piece of information or from being connected to someone else.
- Informs colleagues about content, people, and resources relevant to their interests and areas of responsibility.
- Collaborator
- Shares tips, tricks, and insights in communities and enterprise social networks.
- Asks questions in communities and social networks.
- Finds resources, people, and content in communities and enterprise social networks.
- Answers questions in communities and enterprise social networks.
- Recognizes colleagues’ contributions and achievements in communities and enterprise social networks.
- Informs about activities and plans in communities and enterprise social networks by Working Out Loud.
- Suggests ideas and solicit input in communities and enterprise social networks.
Stan Garfield
Please read Stan’s additional blog posts offering advice and insights drawn from many years as a KM practitioner. You may also want to download a copy of his book, Proven Practices for Implementing a Knowledge Management Program, from Lucidea Press. And learn about Lucidea’s Inmagic Presto, with KM capabilities to support successful knowledge management programs.
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