The ability to learn is detrimental to success, and the passion for learning only speeds the process. As we approach 2013, we are also going to encounter a new dawn of learning and adaptation. Businesses will continue to collect more data and adapt to the shifts in consumer needs. But not everyone in your organization can always be kept up to speed with the newest, hottest resources in your industry. That’s where business libraries come in.
In every organization, there should be a library – filled to the brim with the newest books about their industry. For people who prefer e-readers and the digital frontier, there should be an online collection that the employees can visit and view the resources that their organization’s leaders deem important.
A database – if you will – of all the books, articles, white papers, podcasts, case studies, and blogs that you can manage into one single resource specifically for the people of your organization and for your industry. For employees who want to learn about C#? BAM! They can search on their company database and find that they recommend Lynda.com. Or this book on Oreilly.com. You get the idea.
WHY?
It inspires the people of your organization to keep up. The digital worlds of marketing and technology are constantly changing. Forrester and Gartner are constantly bringing new sources of information to the table. Every year, at least 10 great books on marketing and technology and other business fields are written. There are certain bloggers that you might want to pay attention to, not to mention your competition. It could also aid in your own internal marketing efforts – especially if you’re trying to introduce a new idea to the organization. Pooling the most important and most inspiring resources together into one accessible database and then promoting it to the members of the organization? I think of it as giving an energy gel or calorie-loaded snack to an ultra-marathoner. It gives them fuel for the fire. It keeps them running and thinking. My Meema says that “an idle mind is the Devil’s workshop.” Keep the mind active, and keep the great ideas coming.
WHERE?
It wouldn’t have to be a physical library (although kudos to your office if they build it around this idea). It could be accessed through a system like SharePoint. It could be the company’s DropBox account. It could be resourced through Twitter, or it could be a monthly newsletter sent to the entire company and then catalogued for anyone who missed something. Nevertheless, it doesn’t have to be (and shouldn’t be) complex.
It does, however, need to be searchable. It will need to utilize tags. There would need to be someone in charge of managing the database and keeping it updated. Should someone read an article or a book in the database, being able to comment on it and give thoughts would be incredible! It would encourage a conversation within the organization. Conversation could lead to new ideas! The database would (of course) need to be user-friendly. Lastly, the database would need an evangelist – someone to encourage usage.
WHO MANAGES IT?
Who other than your CCO (chief content officer)? If you don’t have one, you certainly have someone who produces content. Find your content leaders and ask them to put their heads together to come up with a master list of great resources for the organization. Ask the members of your organization to contribute titles and links of great things they’ve read recently.
WHEN?
Start now. I read an article recently on Forbes.com about reading fast enough to be successful. How can you be successful if you aren’t learning? More importantly, how can you be successful if you aren’t learning and seeking out new information fast enough? As cliched as it is, knowledge is power.
You’re welcome.