Do you know what a maven is? I had no idea what the word meant until someone called me one and then explained it to me. Then, I was so pleased at the compliment, I like to share the knowledge, and the compliment, with others. While the dictionary defines maven as an expert, Wikipedia takes the meaning a step further to an expert seeking to pass knowledge on to others (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maven). Rather than hoarding knowledge and resources, a maven seeks to share the knowledge to help others.
As an example, I once spent HOURS on hold and unsuccessfully dealing with many technical support personnel when a new computer program was released at work. I was frustrated with my lack of progress and angry at the poor use of my time and energy. Use of this system was a necessary part of my job and we were all given hardly any information on how to meet our needs. Then, I started to think about how my colleagues would also have to know how to utilize and navigate this system and how, if they had a similarly painful experience, how our customers may be adversely affected.
I chose to pre-emptively contact supervisors and create a "cheat sheet" on how to do what we needed. I also contacted the technical assistance as to how they could be most helpful to my organization and to others to learn the new system and how to do what we needed. As a result, years later, I still have people around the department asking me for help as the "guru" and the partner organization recognizes my contributions and efforts to help.
Now imagine if I hoarded this knowledge and had an attitude like "if I had to suffer through it, so should they." The results in our department would have included countless wasted hours and numerous frustrated colleagues which translates into reduced quality and/or quantity of services to our customers. All that just so my misery could enjoy some company? That seems ridiculous! Most of us probably know people who are like that but imagine their lives and think if that is how you want to live. I certainly do not.
I prefer to set others up for success, save everyone time and help my colleagues best serve our customers. I prefer it because it is helpful not because it leads to some other benefit.
Become a maven! Consider a skill in which you have expertise and how this ability helps you in your work. Then, think about who might benefit from this knowledge and plan steps on how best to share it with them. Remember to plan for all stakeholders - could this knowledge benefit other organizations? How might you be able to preempt learning obstacles?
If you do not consider yourself an expert on anything, perhaps you can share knowledge of resources. Maybe you can be the "go to" maven in your organization.
Being a maven has obvious benefits to your colleagues but can also help you. Being known as an expert is likely to come up in your workplace evaluations. If you are willing to share your knowledge with others, your colleagues are also more likely to share their knowledge with you. Being known as someone who shares resources is also likely to be known around the organization and can help you become promoted, or can lead to your being wanted in other organizations or maybe even lead to your current organization fighting to keep you!
To learn more about how to be a maven in your workplace and building organizational learning, visit our website at www.makoed.com, email Mako & Associates at DeeAn@MakoEd.com or 206-992-7484.
