So, you’ve got a long-term worker about to leave your business.
Lucky for them.
But how do you get a download of all their knowledge before they go?
(Let’s not dwell on the fact that you should have thought of this earlier – where everything could have been documented in a leather-bound manuscript ready for passing on to the replacement. But in reality, the knowledge the worker is taking is difficult to document. They are taking connections, back door solutions, and earned influence).
Here are some tips to get that download:
- Have them take a week’s leave before their departure date. This will flush out the knowledge gaps.
- Interview the worker, focussing on how tasks are done, record the interview, and then tip it into an AI tool to extract the key points.
- During that interview, trawl through the worker’s emails and IM’s for the last month. Record how requests were actioned.
- Also extract a list of key contacts from the worker’s emails and IM’s. Identify key relationships.
- Encourage post-exist availability.
You’ll never get the full download. That’s OK. The way things were done might not have been the best way. It could be a good time for a refresh!