Information and knowledge
If information leads to knowledge and knowledge is power, then it follows that to keep and to grow power you need to control and/or ration the amount of information you give out, right? As a scholar and practitioner of corporate and public communications I have never seen this theory written down anywhere nor is it taught in any school I know of; yet it is disheartening to see how many people believe it, or at least act like they did. What is worse, in my opinion, is how many of these people find themselves in management positions—so maybe there is some truth to it? Maybe …
In my experience as a consultant, information sharing on a “need to know” basis is the source of much organizational inefficiency, suspicion, general disaffection and even on occasion a cover for malfeasance. I much prefer the transparency of information sharing on a “want to know” basis.
Well, I have shown my bias on this subject. What do you think, how do good and great managers treat information?
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Comments
Nice post, Steve!
Luckily, managers don't need to have all the answers, just the right questions.
Open access is the means to engagement and innovation, for employees, members, gatekeepers, and competitors. There's nothing proprietary about information or process, just insights fueling thought and brand leadership.
Like the old Lays potato chip ads, associations and execs can be generous with information because we can always make more.
Cheers,
Ann Oliveri
Posted by: Ann Oliveri | August 11, 2009 10:15 AM
Totally agree. This leads directly into the authenticity/transparency/clarity question. Sharing is a good thing - and expected, more and more.
Posted by: Maddie Grant | August 11, 2009 1:37 PM