Thanks to all who have participated in our discussion about organizational thought leaders. Before we move on to another subject, let’s review with a little exercise:
Think about five people in your company who, in your opinion, are knowledge thought leaders (keep the names to yourself).
As you think about these people, list five characteristics for each person that contribute to his or her role as a knowledge thought leader. Also think about how, from your perspective, these characteristics connect with your estimation of the person’s role as knowledge thought leader (in other words, why is this or that particular characteristic important in the workplace).
Share these characteristics in a comment to this post. Again, don’t reveal names. If you need to assign a particular characteristic to a particular person, use something like “Person A,” “Person B,” etc. That should be enough.
But that’s not necessary unless you want to do that. Just share those five “top” attributes you would assign to a knowledge thought leader.
Let us hear from you and we’ll share the list (our own knowledge-thought-leaders “checklist” perhaps?).
Coming from the unfortunate position of not having taken part in the earlier discussions, my first take on this happened to come out with characteristics that I would consider those of any good enterprise-level leader. I inadvertently deleted that post, but I had four general characteristics:
– A Big Picture thinker who thinks of the entire firm situation instead of that of his/her own department. Also able and willing to look at that picture from the various perspectives of all those affected
– Creative at problem solving – might use existing tools in new ways to solve problems – not band aid solutions, but true viable resolutions.
– Open-Minded – willing to openly discuss planned solutions and the underlying issues, and willing to use (and attribute) helpful suggestions that make the solution better
– Persistent – able to promote and persuade both firm leadership and the “rank & file” re: the proposed solution
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Having lost that, then gone back over the previous discussions, I’m not sure I’d deviate from those very much, except to focus more on how those characteristics play into the knowledge needs at this particular knowledge thirsty firm.
So:
– Big Picture thinker who thinks of the knowledge needs of the entire firm situation instead of those of his/her own department. Also able and willing to look at that picture from the various perspectives of all those affected
– Creative at problem solving – might use existing tools in new ways to solve problems – not band aid solutions, but true viable resolutions. Is able to see the knowledge related capabilities of our existing tools and envision innovative ways to use them.
– Open minded – willing to openly discuss planned solutions and the underlying issues, and willing to use (and attribute) helpful suggestions that make the solution better – to absorb the knowledge of others into an informed, appropriate resolution
– Persistent – able to promote and persuade both firm leadership and the “rank & file” re the proposed solution
I would also add:
– Keen Observer/Listener – able to examine the issue from all sides and find opportunities for improved knowledge sharing and collaboration. An open and willing witness to current knowledge processes in order to use other K-skills to offer improvements, issues resolution, etc.
I would be very interested in seeing a consolidated list of all the characteristics you receive.
Thanks – Julie
Thanks for that very useful comment to all our discussion on the knowledge thought leader. We will indeed have a consolidated list. In the KM/knowledge services community, this is a “hot topic,” and I certainly intent to pull – as best I can – the many threads and ideas together. Thank you for responding.
– Listening to a discerning group of ‘big picture’ persons
– Looking beyond their own organization type
– Formulating a strategy
– Sharing overall goals early
– Cultivating new leaders by creating a multistage process
Irene Laursen, SOAR55 Volunteer
first career: science research librarian