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Knowledge Mobilization
If you add “robust knowledge sharing by default” to your organizational goals, pay attention to micro habits. Those habits by teammates if left unexamined and unmodified will sabotage a polished knowledge sharing workflow plan or policy. The knowledge sharing culture eats the strategy for breakfast (h/t Peter Drucker, supposedly).
Storytelling
Hearing stories of local NGO staff's passions helps build trust, rapport, and a connection to matters that matter to them. In a culturally-sensitive way, intentionally crafting listening spaces with partners deepens understanding.
When the staff at local, international offices of a global nonprofit expressed concern over clear expectations, workload, and uncertainty regarding success, the lead of the investigating team invite me (from a sister team) to join five multi-day, in-person listening sessions. During each of the five in-country visits, the three- or four-person team interviewed 40-60 staff in groups of 3-12 related roles at a time. I facilitated these semi-structured interviews, summarized themes, and crafted initial strategy considerations. Over three months in 2025, I and the teams spoke with informants in Asia, East Africa, West Africa, South America, and Central America.
The knowledge of the elders is sometimes written.
As an institutional member of a consortia of international relief and development organizations, I catalyzed the creation of a new knowledge management community of practice (CoP). While serving on the steering committee of an existing CoP, I recognized the opportunity for a new km-specific peer learning group. With support from the consortia staff, I and others invited members into the new KM CoP group in 2025. I began as the single chair of the steering committee after recruiting five committee members. I then asked one of these five to work with me as co-chair.
As a librarian and knowledge manager, the "Information Steward" moniker grew out of information organization practices in academic libraries and international development nonprofit work. Examining who I am, what I believe, and my habits in vocational environments, I now recognize a broader scope of my work.
Knowledge sharing values lived out as habits. How individuals and teams practice knowledge sharing emerges from the values and culture embraced by those individuals. Rules, processes, and expectations succeed or fail based on the energy embodied in the culture. What is the knowledge sharing culture of your team or organization? The following activities may help illuminate the root of your knowledge sharing culture.
Stewarding information across work departments and teams necessitates links, relationships, visibility, and lines of communication at the highest level of the organization. Consequently, Information Steward co-leads will report directly to the organization's leader (CEO, President, Executive Director).
