You Best Do Your Research!

So I just returned from a Site Consultants Forum in Austin, Texas, hosted by the Texas Economic Development Council. While most of the commentary was directly relatable to economic development, I do believe that Kate McEnroe's comments are transferable to any industry or workplace.

Kate's presentation focused on how "doing your research" can increase your return on investment. The following are a few notes I found relevant:

DATA INFORMATION KNOWLEDGE WISDOM

The availability of the information alone is not sufficient to create wisdom, but rather the application and understanding of such information.

Be Original - Be Proactive - Be Pushy - Be Sustainable 

Develop internal core competencies 

Create primary information in which you are the only source of the information so those seeking your knowledge will have to reach out to you directly.

If you report it, show it or model it. Don't allow others to question the validity or accuracy of the information. Create proof.

Investigate your competition and do a comparable analysis. Benchmark your organization against others.

Do it NOW! Don't wait until that big project is sitting on your desk. Know the answers before you are asked.

Get out and meet people!

Interfere with the invisible process. Don't sit back and just let the "behind the scenes" happen. 

Don't save your best stuff! You may have already be checked off the list. Show off that golden goose!

Create a system not just a deliverable. For information to be be usable and relevant, it needs to be "alive". Update it often and on a regular basis. 

Kate McEnroe of Kate McEnroe Consulting has over 17 years of experience in corporate consulting. Her expertise covers corporate location selection, relocation and expansion implementation and assisting economic development organizations plan and manage effective programs.