Professional Development
Defining Success
My childhood interest in achievement matured into a desire for success. I recently reflected on how my definition of success has changed over time. I’m quite guilty of being an overachiever. I like to do things to the best of my ability or not at all. A few years ago, one of my mentors recommended that I […]
No Fault of Your Own: Working Through an Acquisition
So there you are, sitting at your desk, minding your business, doing your job when the news hits you – your company has been acquired. Depending on the corporate culture, the initial news may come via a rumor mill or official channels. Conversely, you may receive notification that your employer has purchased a company. Regardless […]
Understanding the Voice of the Customer (VoC)
Specializing in Knowledge Management provides an excellent opportunity for ongoing improvements with internal and external customers. Knowledge Bases are typically associated with Support Organizations. These Call Centers have evolved to accommodate a variety of mediums including phone, chat and email. Some Call Centers use video conferencing, encouraging users to employ cameras to “show” the situation […]
Exposing Yourself!
Renowned author Helen Keller (who was hearing and visually impaired) once said “Security is mostly a superstition…Avoiding danger is no safer in the long run than outright exposure. Life is either a daring adventure, or nothing.” It is my observation that the Technical Communication industry inherently attracts introverts. The detailed, complex, methodical, analytical work that can be […]
Addressing Pain Points
An intense analysis process is the first step of Business Process Management (BPM). You must understand the current state before you can make recommendations for improvement. Following the analysis phase, recommendations are categorized any number of ways: short-term vs. long-term, inexpensive vs. costly, and so on. Depending on the corporate culture, business analysts often try […]
Where to Begin
Whether it’s a family reunion or a work-related project, the very task of planning can seem overwhelming. Yet, our success is often directly tied to our ability to manage projects and accomplish goals despite changing tools, processes, and people. So what do you do when there are so many factors to consider? When faced with daunting […]
Take It To the MAX!
During a recent job interview, I was asked to describe my work approach. Reflecting on my desire to always do everything within my power to ensure success, I described myself as being “maximalistic”. In my mind, it was the opposite of a minimalistic approach to tasks. While minimalism is a fine principle of technical writing, […]
The Personal Touch
In this era of Instagrams, tweets, and linking in, an entire industry has evolved to help companies develop social media components to their communication strategies. It seems that all of the Social Media strategists, Communication Consultants, Web Developers, User Experience Designers, and User Interface specialists pour their talent and energies into one simple concept: The […]
The Most Critical Skill
In the midst of my job search, I’m fascinated by the variety of qualifications and expectations listed for various roles. Beyond knowledge of specific methodologies, experience, and software, I’m noticing an increased emphasis on soft skills. Organizations are learning that the ability to be a self-directed, collaborative, flexible, and analytical problem solver who can manage […]
Knowledge Management Kitchen 