Stay in the Know

Do you want your team to perform at its best?  Here’s how:  Let Them Know. That’s right. Unlike these monkeys, team members need to be aware of the resources, the tools, and the knowledge available.  By making certain that information is available for those who need it, your team will work much more efficiently and effectively. Let’s find out more.

Who Needs Knowledge Management?

Your team will thrive when everyone has access to the knowledge base.  Information needs to be gathered and organized and easily shared, connecting those with valuable knowledge with those who are seeking it.  Being able to tap into what has been done before or the details of what is up ahead will spark innovation and collaboration. That formula will increase your team’s productivity.  

What Types of Knowledge?

Any team needs access to knowledge in two forms:  Explicit and Tacit. Explicit knowledge is easy to understand because the details are spelled out and documented.  Most can share and receive this type of information, so the challenge here is compiling it. Tacit knowledge, on the other hand, is based on experience and intuition, and that’s not so easily translated or transferred.  Cultural beliefs, values, and attitudes can be shared in onboarding documents for new team members, mentoring programs, weekly meetings, and software and tools that facilitate collaboration. Team members must be privy to both explicit and tacit knowledge.

Where Do We Start?

Take these four steps to begin the process.  First, capture knowledge – save data, how-to-guides, and memos.  Second, improve knowledge access, letting others know where information can be found.  Third, enhance the knowledge environment, encouraging others to dig in, sort, and discover.  Fourth, manage knowledge as an asset, taking care to keep information confidential and valued.  

How Do We Begin?

Some may be reluctant to share what they know.  Others may be resistant to change. If a culture of collaboration is encouraged, though, some of that will go away.  Identify those in the know. Showcase the experts in your midst so others will seek them out when they want to know more.  Focus on what is important, information that is meaningful. Otherwise, the goal of knowledge management will get murky, and team members may feel overwhelmed.  Dabble around and discover which tools will help you with this process. If a tool is not working, try another one.

Why Should We Bother?  

No one likes to be left out in the cold.  Team members want to know how decisions are made and feel as though they truly are an integral part of the team.  By keeping everyone in the know, you encourage growth and innovation. The combination of information may lead to greater insights and aha! moments, discoveries and innovations.  When people on separate teams compare notes, processes may become smoother and more efficient.  When everyone knows more about how and why, that promotes agreement about essential goals. Sharing information gets people working together, improving relationships.  

You don’t want any team members with their hands over their ears, their eyes, or their mouths.  Each person on your team knows something of value, and when that knowledge is shared, the power of it is exponentialized.  Another way to empower your team and benefit your business is to use the tools and resources available at Online Sales Pro.   After all, we’re here to help you stay in the know.

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