Dr. Everything'll Be Alright's 12 Step KM Program

"Dearly beloved, we are gathered here today to get through this thing called life

Electric word life, it means forever and that's a mighty long time, but I'm here to tell you, there's something else...the afterworld

A world of never ending happiness, you can always see the sun...day or night

So when you call up that shrink in Beverly Hills, you know the one, "Dr. Everything'll Be Alright", instead of asking him how much of your time is left, ask him how much of your mind, baby

Cause in this life, things are much harder than in the afterworld, in this life, you're on your own!

And if the elevator tries to bring you down, go crazy - punch a higher floor!"

I’ve been in a funk the last week and not just because ReRe didn't play in the Aussie Open, Roddick and Isner are out, and V had to retire due to injuries most likely sustained putting on that hot ass mess of a tennis dress (really BabyGirl, really!?!?!).

Anywho, today the universe (via Comcast) conspired to make me feel better. First, season 3 of RuPaul’s Drag Race premiered tonight starring my old college chum (and the first drag queen I ever crushed on) Mimi Imfurst and eternal hottie Vanessa Williams who must get sick of being told how stunning she is every day of her life. Not that I would be the one to ever get tired of lookin' at her or sayin' so. Second, Gossip Girl came back to me after a very cold winter break. Now, as long as the writers stop stabbing my eyes with this whole Blair/Lonely Boy (aka Dumbass Dan) mess I can ride out the remainder of the season blissfully. P.S. What’s up with the One-Life-To-Live-Gossip-Girl-Chicas-Exchange program? Not that I’m complaining; I totally get a kick out of it! Amanda Setton is a hoot, Melissa Gallo needs more work, and Tika Sumpter is truly unappreciated in Llanview.

Prior to all of this TV love, however, my general funkyness (that’s attitude, not B.O.) provided exactly the right creative fuel to pen the 12 Step KM piece to my KM Branding model.

Just to clarify, this isn't KM in 12 steps...if I had that nugget in my tool belt I probably wouldn't have spent the weekend feelin' funky and watching Jersey Shore hoping and praying I get a 'Gorilla Juice Head' t-shirt for my birthday.

No, 12 Step KM revolves around the idea of establishing a support and advocacy group targeting KM staff and champions with the intention of providing:

• Professional education and development
• Teambuilding and social support
• Networking
• Advocacy for KM and knowledge stewardship to strengthen KM as an organizational function

Initially, I thought about using this approach to target knowledge hoarders and poor sharers, but upon further thought it seemed a bit much for the workplace, especially when there are more direct ways to secure their participation in KM activity. In serving as a support mechanism for KM staff and champions this approach closes the loop on a 360°branding campaign that touches all stakeholders in an organization.

Unlike traditional 12 Step programs that address recovery from addiction, compulsion, or behavioral problems, this approach isn't meant to imply any shortcoming on the part of participants; think more Weight Watchers than AA. The objective here isn't (necessarily) to correct some sort of psychological or managerial issue. Rather, your looking to help folks maintain clarity and focus with KM...which can be very easy to lose sight of in the day-to-day grind.

The 12 Step KM process involves:

• Admitting that successful, sustainable KM takes time; It won’t happen overnight
• Recognizing that a strategic approach/mindset is essential to achieving the goals of KM
• Documenting and measuring KM activities (and maintaining an historical account) is critical to planning for success
• Strategizing and planning around KM metrics, best practices, and lessons learned
• Promoting knowledge stewardship and championing the values of KM

The Principles of 12 Step KM

1. We accept that improving knowledge management is a communal effort and that we are merely facilitators
2. We fully believe in the promise of KM, that it will improve operational efficiency, promote innovation, and, ultimately, increase market share and profitability
3. We believe that a strategic approach/mindset is essential to achieving the goals of KM
4. We will audit knowledge sharing/behaviors, practices and policies thoroughly and evaluate our findings critically
5. We will develop strategies that honestly and fearlessly reflect organizational needs
6. We will present an honest accounting of the State of KM to all stakeholders
7. We will provide sufficient marketing and education on the proposed strategy to key stakeholders to obtain buy-in and support
8. We will work with key stakeholders to prioritize strategic objectives and pursue them in accordance with a comprehensive project plan
9. We will routinely assess the demand for KM services and work collaboratively across the organization to achieve KM goals
10. We will establish and report, regularly, on KM metrics and key performance indicators, as well as lessons learned and action reports
11. We will commit ourselves to our own professional growth and development
12. We will actively promote knowledge stewardship, champion the values of KM, and work to strengthen KM as an organizational unit

Whether you're building a team/function/strategy from scratch or pumping new life into something already in motion, 12 Step KM is a fantastic way to provide staff and champions with consistent direction and guidance on KM strategy and values as well as the tools and resources to support them in executing their tasks in the face of organizational roadblocks.