What ARMA Can Teach Us Beyond Records Management

Confidence, Communication, Inreach, and Optimism

Nancy Freeman, CARecords Manager/Archivist

National Wildlife Research Center

My Main Focus: Top Management Support

-How that plays out for SAA & ARMA

-What SAA/archivists can learn from ARMA/records managers

My Background

-Records manager & archivist/lone arranger 11 years

-Taught rm and archives 6 years

-Member SAA, ARMA, SRMA, N. CO ARMA

NWRC:

-HQ & 8Field Stations

-Federal research agency

-170 employees, small corner of gov’t heaven

Top Management Support

-Phrase used extensively in rm/ARMA literature

-Not so much in archival literature

-Touted in rm texts as first step in all projects/aspects of rm programs

Excellent RM Example:

-March/April 2010 article in Information Management by Ken Neal, “Stepping Up to the Plate: Developing an Effective Business Communication Strategy”

For Top Management Support:

-Ability to communicate to management and others, value and business case for rm initiatives

-Effective communication inherent in top management support

ARMA/RM Big on Communication& Persuasion:

-Know organization’s strategic objectives & values

-Know what makes management pay attention, “buttons”

My World:

-One button, FOIA

-Public perception of NWRC

-Regulatory compliance

My World:The Seemingly Not So Helpful Management Values:

-“Archives are just old stuff”

-Research is our purpose so researchers/scientists are kings

-Know Management’s Communication Style

-From article: use of strategic communication: what do I want,how will audience react, will my message be resisted, what do I know to tailor message to audience?

NWRC Management

-Love bullet points and statistics, “Just the facts, M ’am.”

-My first funded project-confidence building

More NWRC Management

-Records disaster plan

-Many short-term, focused projectsfunded

-Know management audience.

Example:

-“He Scares Me!”

-My confident realization

-Thank you, ARMA

Presentation Skills in ARMA:

-Literature

-Conference Sessions

-Highlighted in leadership training

Broaden Idea of Presentations:

-Macro level: SAA, SRMA, ARMA

-Micro Level: Meeting with boss, unit staff meetings, bigger boss, biggest boss

SAA Changes Over the Years:

-Elevator speech

-Project management workshop & related sessions

-Leadership focus in literature, sessions, & workshops

SAA Can Do More:

-Literature re: top management support

-Sessions & workshops on communicating/presenting

Changes on Individual Level:

-Read RM & general business literature

-Hone presentation skills

-Join ARMA, attend conferences

Pithy, Poignant, Profound Ending