Knowledge hoarding is an indirect business killer, and there are often signs of knowledge hoarding in the workplace if you know what to look for. The good news is that once you recognize the signs, you can start addressing them.
We’re going to take a deeper dive into the definition of knowledge hoarding, why employees may keep knowledge to themselves, and what you can do to promote a culture of knowledge sharing within your organization.
When your star employees begin to realize that the only way to upward mobility is out, this can cause some serious retention issues for your organization. According to a report by Gallup, 51% of employed adults in the United States say they are currently also searching for new jobs or watching for new job opportunities. This means that half of the employees at your organization are at risk of turnover. But what is the cause of employees leaving your company?
One of the top reasons for leaving given by employees is that they are frustrated with their career progress. Above all other considerations, millennials rank opportunities to grow in a job as the most crucial factor. 69% of non-millenials say that this is also important to them when looking for a new job.
This means that employees tend to leave organizations when they are not able to see a developmental path forward, and instead choose companies that do show them a clear path forward. So why can’t your employees see a future with you? The problem might lie with talent hoarding.
Intelligent organizations, these are organizations where the flow of data is harnessed to achieve core business objectives, such as improving customer experience, developing better products and services, and driving efficiency in internal operations.
This involves developing a level of data maturity. This means understanding what data is available to an organization, what can be done with it, and what tools and technologies are needed to put it to use.
But perhaps most vitally, it involves building a culture of data literacy throughout the entirety of an organization. From the boardroom to the shop floor, every individual and area of operation should be aware of the value of data, its power to drive innovation and efficiency, and best practices when it comes to collecting, storing, and using it.
Wolfgang Schäuble has been a member of the Bundestag for exactly 50 years, making him the sole record holder. For the anniversary, the CDU politician will basically be with Markus Lanz. He criticizes Germany’s “know-it-all” on many issues, which means that Germany is met with a lack of understanding from many international partners and allies.
As an example, Schäuble cites the discussion about the “One Love” armband at the World Cup in Qatar. This moral exaggeration does not fit the federal government’s gas deal with Qatar. Germany needs this relationship right now. And don’t stick to what other countries would like to dictate.
But even in the debate about the raid in the “Reichsbürger” milieu, an internal contradiction becomes clear. Such a successful search is only possible thanks to a certain level of surveillance of suspects, for example by wiretapping communications. Here Germany must find the right balance between freedom and security. And between security and morality.
It is similar for Schäuble in energy policy. Germany has been going its own difficult path here since Nord Stream 1. But with Nord Stream 2 at the latest, they have moved far too far away from the other Europeans and the Americans.
The commitment to volunteerism has been a hallmark of American civic life since the country’s founding. It was Benjamin Franklin who formed the first volunteer fire department in 1736, and many American militias during the Revolutionary War were comprised of volunteers. Some of the most well-known American charitable organizations, such as the YMCA and the American Red Cross, were founded in the 19th century.
Many American youth today are exposed to volunteering through religious youth groups or scouting organizations, and many large companies arrange volunteering opportunities for their employees. Nearly every church, school, or local community center has volunteers who feed the poor, teach, tend to the sick and elderly, support political causes, coach kids, or rescue animals, among numerous other causes. Not only does volunteering allow people to help others through direct action, but it fosters an incredible sense of community as well.