Organizations that fail to perform in knowledge management run the risk of preventing employees from accessing information they need to do their jobs. They should be aware that a knowledge sharing culture, after all, is the bread and butter of any company, may it be a startup firm or a well-organized medium-sized organization. Here are some ways companies can foster knowledge sharing in their ranks.
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Keep an open communication
Use clear, transparent means of communication, such as having employees express their ideas and contributions, and access company information in a regular manner. This fosters a culture of trust and awareness.
Engage people through conversations and scheduled meetings
Traditional office meetings and town hall gatherings never go out of style, and here employees get a chance to interact with upper management and discuss ideas and ask questions freely. Apart from formal meetings, meaningful peer to peer conversations every day also make a lasting mark in knowledge sharing.
Design the workplace to be conducive to knowledge sharing
Offices can be more social-friendly by setting up several coffee stations that can bring people together, designing conference rooms to be less formal and with several smaller tables with groups of chairs, and promoting casual seating in common spaces.
Share knowledge via training and onboarding techniques
Give new hires an assigned mentor, and allow them to shadow team members that exemplify knowledge sharing and collaboration as they work. Ask new hires and junior staff for their input, and always assume their desire to contribute and offer opinions that could be truly beneficial for the organization.
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Image Source: Pixabay.com
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Patrick Lanning is a leadership and team coach. In the past he held both student services and instructional positions such as part- and full-time faculty, faculty chair, director, dean, vice president and chief academic officer. Read more about education on this site.
