How experience should be shared.
The WLC seminar last week, a member-driven program, provides an excellent example of how a group of individuals with like interests and goals can increase both their own and other’s knowledge of competitive intelligence. Over 30 individuals exchanged experiences, queried both experts and peers, and gained insight into the challenges associated with expanding their intelligence work and career path.
Several unique circumstances created this exceptional forum for sharing experience and knowledge. First and foremost was the willingness of two FORMER CI professionals, Jenny Fisher and Ava Youngblood, to take the time and effort to convey how they applied their accumulated CI skills and knowledge into developing unique career paths. By doing this they also served as strong role models for others who are developing their professional capabilities.
Second was the extraordinary level of discussion and perspective-sharing from all individuals in that room. Many people were in their second or third CI position; others sought recommendations to expand the structure and impact of their organization’s competitive intelligence function.
Third, virtually all scheduled speakers presented extemporaneously – there was probably less than 40 slides show during the entire seminar. This not only highlighted the exceptional depth and breath of their knowledge, but enhanced the ability of the seminar participants to guide the discussion along the lines of their interests.
And lastly, the widely-talented members of the two panels graciously allowed the moderator and the audience to learn from their individual experiences. They responded to questions concerning how CI developed in their organizations, the personal challenges they have faced, and the elements crucial to their own success.
None of this could have happened without the cooperative vision and effort of several key WLC members, including Ellen Naylor. Although the seminar’s structure was at times very malleable, all involved worked together to develop a unique end result that was highly valued by those who participated in it. It provides a model of how experience should be shared, one that can be applied to any specific interest group.
Bonnie Hohhof