This is the first post in an occasional series in which I’ll share experiences from my decades as an Information Services Director. Many librarians, researchers or knowledge managers get promoted through the ranks into senior management roles without the benefit of formal training in administrative and operational areas—me included. That can make things …interesting! In this series I’ll share my best tips, my worst mistakes, and lessons learned. Please read on for the most illuminating interview question you can ask when you’re hiring.

Originally Posted: 2/19/2016

A HiPPO is the “Highest Paid Person's Opinion.” Often HiPPOs are very wrong. Just ask BlackBerry and Nokia, two big name TELCOs with leaders who completely misread the smartphone market. Allowing the HiPPOs in your organization to have complete control of your KM strategy could result in similar consequences.

Is Artificial Intelligence (AI) a threat to your career? Yes. But read on.

AI is likely to have an increasingly significant impact on the knowledge management profession over time. But with the right strategy, you can be assured of remaining employed in your chosen field.

Every job has its pluses and minuses. Consider dentists: great work environment, good pay and definitely needed. However, does anyone really appreciate their dentist? Same deal for doctors—and KM professionals. How does one stay excited about one’s career?

I just read an excellent blog post on networking like a "pro" at conferences on the Linex Systems website, and since it’s trade show season, the tips provided are very timely. But what about internal networking? Can some of the principles that make conference networking less scary also make interacting with our own organizational leaders less intimidating?

People who choose careers as archivists have an abiding commitment to identifying, collecting, preserving and making accessible information and records of enduring value. Paper, film and electronic records deemed to be of interest for an extended period should be shared with the world, not simply collected.