Starting IA Locals and Bringing IA to Work

Stacy Merrill [email protected]

A Room of Our OwnStarting IA Locals and Bringing IA to Work

IA SummitMarch 25, 2006

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"Everybody can be great, because everybody can serve." Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

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Point of this Session

Help you create IA-friendly environments

Concepts and strategies for starting IA local groups and fostering IA at work

Introduction

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Archetypal Situations

Accidental EvangelistIA is a mystery to your boss; work holds little scope for IA practice

Lone WolfIn EVERY social setting "I'm an IA" is a conversation stopper

Young HeroYou've brought IA to work and play and wonder what's next

Quick Guide

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Useful Domains

Project ManagementPlanningEvangelismOrganizational Value

Volunteer LeadershipServiceVolunteerism

Party PlanningNetworkingIA Spa

Quick Guide

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Accidental Evangelist

What do you need?A platform for doing your jobHigher ground: a basecamp or even a handholdYour model can be enterpreneurshipSuccesses tied to company goals

Quick Guide

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Accidental Evangelist

How do you get it?Look throughout your company to see where you can add IA valueNetwork, gain allies, and make contributions freelyGet some wins for the bossOR tuck accomplishments / lessons learned into your portfolio and get hired where they'll appreciate you

Caveat: you'll have to demonstrate your value there, too

Quick Guide

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Lone Wolf

What do you need?A place to go where everybody knows you’re an IALearn, share, be wise, be the neophyte... The IA Summit all year around

Quick Guide

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Lone Wolf

How do you get it?Start a local IA groupTry the easiest thingsRepeat the things that workInvolve everyone who wants to take part

Quick Guide

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Young Hero

What should you be doing?Up the ante in Leadership, Service, and Party PlanningReplicate your successes; then give it all awayLink what you do to a larger matrix

Speak at conferencesSupport IAI Local GroupsContribute your wisdom to

other, related associations

Quick Guide

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Challenges and Opportunities

IA at Work and IA LocalsThere are differences…However, approaches withIA locals also apply at work

Challenges/Opportunities

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IA at Work – Challenges

DangersIt's your job so you're on the lineYou might failPeople might think you're stupid

DifficultiesOther ways of doing things are entrenched Pockets of resistance are distributed (this can also be a point of leverage)It can be very lonely


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IA at Work – Opportunities

It's practiceYou will always have to sell IA to somebody - boss, clients, prospective bosses and clients

You make a big impactYour companyYour clients' projectsIndividuals who are attracted to your approachYour career


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Local Groups – Challenges

DisincentivesYou could fail to gather interestPeople might think you're stupidIt's homework or unpaid overtime - it takes time from the rest of your life

Knowledge gapsWhere do you start? How does a volunteer group work?Overdoing? Underdoing? How to keep up momentum?


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Local Groups – Opportunities

SpaIncredibly refreshingValidatingYou can have adult conversationsStrengthens your sinewsGood for you


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Local Groups – Opportunities

Not your jobWork is the fuel, but you're freed from your work settingStart with certain axioms granted – so can focus on the interesting thingsTap into a knowledge base and solve work problemsIt's good for your career

Communal goodYou increase the endowment for your daughters and sons


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How To: IA at Work

Philosophical approachSell IA and further your career

Resource ListI refer you to other Summit sessionsSelling IA - Getting Execs to say Yes, Samantha StarmerIA and Business track sessions See Resource List at end

How To: IA at Work

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How To: Local Groups


IA local approaches and lessons learned will also apply at work, and vice versa

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Philosophical Approach

SpaThink of the Spa when organizing your group and planning activities.Everything should be refreshing, fun, meaningful, and good for you.


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Practical Matters

It's volunteeringRead at least one book about organizing volunteers

It's an organizationKeep in mind you're creating an enduring non-profit organization


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Practical Matters

It's largely party planningKeep things as simple as possible, but no simplerRepeat whatever works bestInvolve everybody who wants inUp the ante when you get good at it

Replicate your successesGive it awaySupport IAI Local GroupsWork with related associations

Declare victory and celebrate


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Events

Face to Face MeetupsLittle or no agenda (dinner, cocktail/coffee hour)Easy agenda (book group)Planning meetings (events, activities, infrastructure)

PresentationsDeliverables fairEvent reduxGuest speakers (grab them when they’re in town)


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Logistics

Find good locations and reuse themBookstoresCoffee shops (particularly alternative ones)Public librariesSchools with related programsYour companyYour abode


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Logistics

"Good locations" means:Enough room for the number of people and the activityRight ambiance (e.g. for talking, socializing, sharing documentation, listening, etc)Centrally located, with good parking


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Logistics

Reach peopleStart a list

Announcements only, or discussion?

Start a website How do maintain? (Blog?)


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Logistics

Get people involvedEvents

Dan Brown: "We'll support flamenco dancing if an IA wants to organize it"

PlanningMaintenance

Give them real ownership


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IA-do (The Way of IA)

The secret is "service"Keep goingGet people involvedBe willing to give it away


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Resources – IA at Work

A Foray across Boundaries: Applying IA to Business Strategy and Planning Richard Dalton, Rob Weening, www.iasummit.org/2005/finalpapers/104_Presentation.ppt

Selling IA: Getting Execs to say YesSamantha Starmer, www.iasummit.org/2006/conferencedescrip.htm#138

2006 IA Summit Business & IA Track(see 2006 IA Summit Proceedings)

Resources

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Resources – Local Groups

The Volunteer Recruitment Book Susan J. Ellis

When Everyone's a Volunteer Ivan H. Sceier

Yahoo Groups http://groups.yahoo.com/Google Groups

http://groups.google.com/IAI Local Groups

www.iainstitute.org/localgroupsDCIA Local Group

www.dc-ia.com

Resources

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Resources – Project Management

Project Management http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Project_management

The Art of Project Management Scott Berkun www.scottberkun.com/books/artofpm

Resources

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Stacy Merrill [email protected]

Career

Starting IA Locals and Bringing IA to Work