We all face the same challenges. Who
is “we” and what are the challenges? The latest, and very delicious, SHR
Breakfast today brought together public and private sectors, knowledge,
information and libraries. Despite the external challenges of financial
constraints and ever increasing regulation, one of the biggest challenges facing
our profession might be summed up in the word “perception”. Does your CEO know
what you do? Shouldn’t it be your responsibility to change that? Looking at our
guest list today you would perceive that the issues faced by each organisation
and company would be wildly different but to our surprise, and pleasantly so,
there was a lot of commonality and a lot to be learnt from each other.
In discussion, we learnt that one of
the major impacting factors on knowledge and information services is the
expectation to do more and do better with less – less funding, less time and
less resources. Looking at your existing resources, the most valuable of all,
your staff, there is a need to employ the very best. Would it surprise you to
hear from employers that job applications have doubled, but the quality hasn’t?
Sadly, I suspect not. We not only have to justify our services, but we have to
justify ourselves in jobhunting. Simply sending a CV will not
work!
What struck me most about our
fascinating round-table discussion was the passion to break down the silos, to
share, to learn from each other and to cross-fertilise. How do we do this? By
networking, joining together to find our voice. Without exception there were
nodding heads when Sue Edgar raised the notion of the need for good leadership
in business and that it is vital to get a mentor or a coach, it being critical
to keep you moving. By getting a role model or mentor outside knowledge &
information, you are already well on your way to encourage the move away from
silos.
And whilst we didn’t have time to
answer the question “where is the future of the profession”, we did agree that
we need people who have worked across all silos
and that we urgently need to connect our "different" professions. The thought
of an Umbrella organisation providing services and a central voice for the many
and diverse information groups to rally around was mooted and generally
liked.
- Suzanne Wheatley, Recruitment Manager