Thriving in Tough Times: Why special librarians are perfectly positioned to own the future

1© 2011 Social Information Group

Thriving in Tough TimesWhy special librarians

are perfectly positioned to own the future

Scott Brown

Social Information Group

June 11, 2011

CoASL Workshop

Denver, Colorado, USA© abet - Fotolia.com

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• Community

• InfoCitizen

• OrgIntel & entrepreneurship

• Thinking broadly: branding yourself

• What does it mean to own your future?

Some ideas

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com·mu·ni·ty

a unified body of individuals

an interacting population of various kinds of individuals in a common location

a body of persons of common and especially professional interests scattered through a larger society

joint ownership or participation

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Are we a community?

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How many communities are we?

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How are competitive intelligence (CI) communities unique?

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How are competitive intelligence (CI) communities unique?

• Sensitivity to sharing

• Split between professional and business connection

• Typically, hard to connect

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ExampleCI community on Ning: http://www.ci2020.com

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How are competitive intelligence (CI) communities unique?

• Sensitivity to sharing

• Split between professional and business connection

• Typically, hard to connect

• They’re NOT – there’s a passion for connection

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Why does this work?

Passion

Trust

NOT always directly work-related

New tools, same community dynamic

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InfoCitizen: What does it mean?

Transparency

Openness

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InfoCitizen: What does it mean?

Transparency

Openness

Integrity

Honesty

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Transparency

Openness

Integrity

Honesty

Participation

Inclusion

InfoCitizen: What does it mean?

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InfoCitizen: What does it mean?

Transparency

Openness

Integrity

Honesty

Participation

Inclusion

Quality

Service

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InfoCitizen: This is you.

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OrgIntelOrganizational Intelligence

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OrgIntel: Four approaches

• Searching for clues

• Finding the pulse

• Beyond the org chart

• Visibility & openness

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Searching for clues

• Who are the “content-hungry” people?

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Finding the pulse

• Where are the conversations?

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Finding the pulse

• Where are the conversations?

• Following the active users

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Finding the pulse

• Where are the conversations?

• Following the active users

• The beauty of being Switzerland

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Beyond the org chart

• What can you find out?

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The org chart

VP

Director Director Director

Admin

CEO

VP VP VP

Admin

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The connection chart

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Beyond the org chart

• What can you find out?

• Social tools

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Beyond the org chart

• What can you find out?

• Social tools

• Back to the org chart

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Visibility & openness

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“Who else should know about us?”

“What else can we give you?”

Participation

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Visibility & openness

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=

RELEVANCE

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Branding

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Branding

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Branding

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Branding

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What’s your brand?

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Professional branding

Vs.

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Intentional branding

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Share slides in LinkedIn

Feed Twitter updates into LinkedIn

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Branding and social tools

Visibility, awareness, access

Layers of presence and visibility

Multiple access points to you

Reinforce YOUR brand

Demonstrate your expertise, knowledge, personality

Enhance opportunities and “serendipity”

Attract potential employers, partners and clients to you

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You take your brand with you –no matter where you go.

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Owning your brand – and your future

What are your passions?

What are your skills?

What do you want to learn?

What do you really want?

Where do you want to grow?

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So what’s next?

• How do you want to demonstrate your passions?

LinkedIn?

Blog?

Tweet?

Participate?

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Which is best for you? LinkedIn

“Resume or CV on steroids”

Connection is key

Blogs

Professional online journal

Content is key

Twitter

Personal news feed

Connection, content and speed are key

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Owning your brand – and your future

MAKING yourself relevant

by DEMONSTRATING your passion

and your VALUE

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In summaryBe visible.

Be bold.

Your value is in your passion.

Your brand is bigger than your position.

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Questions/discussion

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Thank you!

Scott Brown

Professional and personal coaching

scott@infoprocoach.com

303-834-7553

Social Information Grouphttp://www.socialinformationgroup.com

scott@socialinformationgroup.com

303-834-7553

http://www.linkedin.com/in/scottrbrown

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