Calling for Champions

Thought I'd share here a post I wrote for our internal community (note that we use the name "wiki" for our Jive Clearspace installation, which is really a full-featured social media application that includes a wiki):

Calling for Champions

No matter what your title or role is, you could be a champion. All it takes is passion and determination! So, if there's something you're passionate about, put the wiki to work and channel your passion into it.

What Does a Champion Do?

Champions step forward and take the lead in addressing an issue or acting on an opportunity with the objective of enacting change or implementing improvements. Champions get people to think about and address issues. Champions facilitate discussions -- online and/or in real-time. Champions organize all of the ideas about their issues and seek consensus. Most of all, champions are results-oriented and push for action, rather than settle for endless or circular discussions.

How Do I Become a Champion?

Anyone can become a champion simply by taking action. You can start a discussion in the wiki, post a document, write a blog post or form a group. Or you can approach your local wiki community manager or me, to express your interest and learn more about how to champion it.

Do I Need Management Approval?

No official management approval is required to become a champion in the wiki for something you are passionate about, but keeping your manager apprised is a good idea. For one thing, becoming a champion means taking initiative, and that's a desirable quality you want your boss to know about you. But, there's no pay or official job title for champions -- just opportunities for fame and glory -- so, you must make sure your activities as a champion don't in any way interfere with your "real job" here.

The Wiki Needs Champions

I'm currently seeking champions for a number of issues related to the wiki itself:

• Tagging and tag groups
• Organization in the wiki of spaces for shared services teams not aligned with one UBM division
• Blogging best practices
• Organizing content in the wiki so it's easy to find
• Prioritizing our ideas for improvements to the wiki's software

And I am sure I will think of many more, but that's enough to get started.

So, who wants to be a champion? Let me know -- or just start championing your idea here in the wiki... no permission needed! And if you're interested in advancing the wiki itself, join the group for Wiki Leaders to stay in touch with what is happening and the issues that need work.