4 Ways to Transfer Knowledge in Business

“Knowledge transfer” should be key in any business whether it’s a five-man startup or a massive corporation. The sharing, exchanging and teaching of knowledge is what moves a company forward as well as each professional. Without it, everyone is virtually their own mini company within a company, unable to work together, and if anyone leaves the company suddenly you have to scramble to reinvent the wheel. You know you need knowledge transfer, but there’s more than one way to go about it.

There is, of course, the myth about the executive, mentor or other professional who hoards information and refuses to share at any cost. The good news is that it really is a myth. The likelier explanation is that this “hoarder” doesn’t know the best way to transfer knowledge, is unaware that she hasn’t already done so, or is simply not too skilled at time management and has put it on the back burner. Relying on a knowledge transfer consultancy firm is a great way to streamline the process, but don’t forget about the many other options at your fingertips for sharing information:

Blogs

Having your own blog that’s either public or by invitation only is a fantastic way to share your experiences with target audiences. This is where you can enjoy a more informal setting, engage in conversations, and where your audience can directly ask you about details.

Social media

Once again, this is a platform where you can customize who sees your posts or tweets. You probably won’t be going into great detail here, but it’s an avenue for updating snippets of information, starting a conversation, and a way for your audience to quickly catch up on what you’re sharing. This is where those bite-sized nuggets of knowledge can flourish.

Regular updates

Whether this is a written report, meeting or a retreat, scheduling regular updates is a must for any professional. While there’s certainly such a thing as meeting overload, planning a time to transfer knowledge in a sit-down environment keeps everyone accountable.

Delegate within reason

This only works in certain situations, but if you’re grooming someone to eventually take over all or part of your responsibilities, there’s no better teacher than experience. Delegating tasks that are truly useful to learn (and not just fluff) ensures that someone else knows the ropes.

The most important part of knowledge transfer is prioritizing it and acting on it. You don’t want to be the only person with key knowledge pieces, so start sharing.