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
Challenges/Opportunities
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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
Challenges/Opportunities
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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?
Challenges/Opportunities
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Local Groups – Opportunities
SpaIncredibly refreshingValidatingYou can have adult conversationsStrengthens your sinewsGood for you
Challenges/Opportunities
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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
Challenges/Opportunities
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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
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.
How To: Local Groups
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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
How To: Local Groups
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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
How To: Local Groups
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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)
How To: Local Groups
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Logistics
Find good locations and reuse themBookstoresCoffee shops (particularly alternative ones)Public librariesSchools with related programsYour companyYour abode
How To: Local Groups
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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
How To: Local Groups
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Logistics
Reach peopleStart a list
Announcements only, or discussion?
Start a website How do maintain? (Blog?)
How To: Local Groups
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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
How To: Local Groups
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IA-do (The Way of IA)
The secret is "service"Keep goingGet people involvedBe willing to give it away
How To: Local Groups
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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]