Knowledge Distribution is Messy But Critical for Hybrid Work: 4 Ways to Make it Better
It's not sexy but I pity managers who don't make it a priority
An excerpt from my latest blog post — What is good knowledge distribution? Is it playbooks so new starters can get up to speed faster at complicated operations? Is it detailed notes on last year’s budget decisions? Is it clear and public Objectives and Key Results (OKRs) so that everyone is aware of everyone else’s goals and ambitions?
The answer is all of that and more. And for hybrid work, with imbalances of access to knowledge and power, being excellent at knowledge distribution is an imperative.
Here are four essential points to instill knowledge distribution as a part of life for your team:
Make it important. A study of an auto repair firm whose use of checklists by mechanics increased revenue by 20% proves that good knowledge distribution benefits the bottom line. BUT, despite the revenue boost and commensurate commission boost, the mechanics did not use checklists on their own accord, only with the firm directly monitoring their use.
Make it a habit. This means checking on knowledge distribution at a detailed level, calling people out for falling short, and rewarding those who are committed to keeping processes and documentation up to date.
Making stress-testing a habit, too: New hires or cross-training people in different roles can reveal documentation holes.
Prioritize the right technology: All the Asana boards in the world can’t keep everyone up to date all the time.
Knowledge distribution is the most significant opportunity and potential risk in a virtual or hybrid workplace. You can see the full text of this article here on my blog.
Some fun links from around the web.
Most fun is that my book is now available for pre-order on Amazon and Barnes and Noble. How to Win Friends and Manage Remotely comes out in September, but you can order now and be sure to get it as soon as it’s available!
Is the Dress Shirt Dead? Men shunned stifling dress shirts in the WFH era, but collared button-ups have surprisingly returned—with a twist. Why you might actually want to wear them now. From WSJ.
I appeared on the Leadership School podcast, talking about my favorite topics, Digital Empathy and virtual leadership. Have a listen here.
If you’re enjoying my thoughts on Digital Empathy, consider sharing with a friend (or coworker!) who might benefit.