Download - Knowledge Networking
What is knowledge networking and why is it important?
Forms of NetworkingForms of Networking
• Social networking– to make friends
• Business networking– to sell things
• Job networking– to get a job
• Knowledge Networking– to build relationships in order to learn from each other & to
get things done together
Knowledge is embodied in people gathered in communities and networks.
The road to knowledge is via people, conversations, connections and relationships.
Knowledge surfaces through dialog, all knowledge is socially mediated and access to knowledge is by connecting to people that know or know who to contact.
Denham Grey
On KnowledgeOn Knowledge
What is Knowledge Networking?What is Knowledge Networking?
• Its about building relationships with people who you can help and support
• And in turn who can help and support you!
What is Knowledge Networking?What is Knowledge Networking?
• Knowledge Networking is– sharing with each other– learning from each other– working together more effectively
• It is – reciprocal– about emotional support as well as practical – a form of two-way coaching– a means of ensuring both yourself and other people get the
information they need– about connecting yourself and other people to new ideas!
The PurposeThe Purpose
• Knowledge Networking is not an end in itself• You must remember the purpose• To help you & others get things done that are
of value to the business– more efficiently, more effectively
• To help you discover new opportunities that are of value to the business– and to act on them
Operational v. StrategicOperational v. Strategic
• Short term– creating practical/pragmatic relationships– effectiveness at what you and others are already
doing
• Long term– building strategic relationships/capability– discovering new business opportunities– doing new things in new more effective ways
Other BenefitsOther Benefits
• Learn what is going on around you– other people are your eyes and ears
• Gain new perspectives– other people think differently to you
• Your blinkers are removed … you get to see the ‘bleeding obvious’– other people see things that you don’t even when they are in
your face!
EthicsEthics
• Some people have a problem with networking– they think it is unethical!
• An implicit mutual contract– I’ll help you and you’ll help me
• If contract broken - it is OK to walk away
Knowledge Sharing
Knowledge SharingKnowledge Sharing
• We do not ‘share knowledge’ in the literal meaning of sharing
• Not like sharing a cake– Synergistic 2 + 2 = 5
• Its more about:– Personal Networking– Helping each other– Working together– Collaborating
Personal Reasons for SharingPersonal Reasons for Sharing
• To help other people & to help ourselves
• Other people– to get things done– to build relationships so they in turn help us
• Ourselves– Learning to be gained
– Knowledge is perishable
– Someone else will make our knowledge productive first
Personal Barriers to SharingPersonal Barriers to Sharing
• An attitude that knowledge is power• Fear of job loss• Fear of embarrassment
• Inertia• Lack of time• People don’t see the benefits
• and much more ...
Is Sharing Natural?Is Sharing Natural?
• Some say – sharing is human & comes naturally
• Other say– knowledge is power and sharing is not natural
Knowledge SharingKnowledge Sharing
Share your Knowledge
• credit to somebody else• passed over for promotion
• depression• alcoholism
• marital breakdown• destitution• die a bum
Is this really true?
Reasons for Sharing• ego
• money reward• guilt
Do we share?Do we share?
• We ALL help each other to a greater or lesser degree
• Within our department
• Within our project work
• With friends and trusted colleagues
Why do we share?Why do we share?
• We share because– it is in our interest - we have something to gain
• We do not give our knowledge away
• We TRADE things
• Two major barriers to sharing– lack of TIME!– lack of obvious benefit i.e. there is no trade
Trading KnowledgeTrading Knowledge
• we need to do our job• we are afraid of the
consequences if we don’t• we like them• we want to look good• we want them to like us• we enjoy it • we are looking for promotion
• we are looking for a new job• we want them to be indebted
to us• we want to build a potentially
useful relationship• they pay us or give us some
other tangible reward
We help people when they approach us for a varietyof reasons (often implicit):
The Desire to LearnThe Desire to Learn
• By sharing our knowledgewith others
• WE learn– we learn from them– we make our tacit knowledge
more explicit– our assumptions are revealed– we are forced to simplify things
• We can often learn more thanwe teach!
If we want to learn we should
teach!
Stephen Covey
The trick to sharing moreThe trick to sharing more
• If we approach someone– help make clear the benefits
• If we are being approached– look for the benefits
• Especially the learning benefits
Benefit & TimeBenefit & Time
TimeAvailability
Benefit
high
low
high low
no brainer
Opportunity for learning/relationship
building
explore/escalate
suggest an alternative
SummarySummary
• Knowledge networking is about learning from each other and working effectively together
• Knowledge sharing is more about knowledge trading!• Learning is one of the the major benefits
• FOCUS ON THE BUSINESS VALUE!