Executive conversation dynamics for records management

Every conversation with an executive is an opportunity to improve records standing, or diminish it.

A conversation that diminishes records standing is one that talks about things that the executive isn't interested in.

A conversation that improves records standing is one that talks about things that the executive is interested in.

Mostly, people think that time with an executive is time to advocate for records and how important it is.

This is a diminishing conversation.

It leaves people thinking that all you care about is records.

It's like of like going up to someone and talking to them about how important hammers are.

Or paper.

Or chairs.

They're only important when they solve a problem that someone cares about.

If you want to crack your executive, try making every conversation about the impact that records is having on organisational performance.

If it’s a conversation about what you’re working on, don’t fall for the trap and tell them what you’re working on - tell them about how it’s improving organisational performance.

Do it often enough and they'll stop thinking about you as "records" and start thinking about you as "performance."

And when they know you’re from records, they’ll start thinking about records as performance.

And it will surprise no one when that part of the organisation that’s always talking about how they improve performance gets more budget.

Whether an organisation wants more records is up for debate - but they all want more performance.