Use knowledge sharing to work smarter

When employees can quickly and easily communicate with one another, they can be more productive, innovative and make better decisions.

To understand effective knowledge-sharing practices, let’s explore exactly what knowledge sharing is and its significance within organizations, with practical examples and actionable strategies for implementation. We’ll also delve into the benefits of using Slack as a powerful tool for knowledge sharing and collaboration.

Knowledge sharing is good for business

What is knowledge sharing?

Knowledge sharing involves a set of processes for exchanging valuable information within a team or workforce.

Why is knowledge sharing so important?

When knowledge is shared, it becomes a valuable resource that fuels better decision-making, problem-solving and learning. Collaboration flourishes, silos crumble and a culture of continuous improvement takes root. With knowledge sharing, duplication of efforts is avoided, errors are minimized, and work moves at an accelerated pace. Knowledge sharing empowers individuals and organizations to stay ahead of the curve, adapt to change, and achieve their goals with unrivaled efficiency.

Baking radical honesty into the way you do business is the first step toward building an organization at which employees’ first impulse is to share their own expertise with colleagues. When your company’s ecosystem supports the free flow of information, you’re not only making it easier for your employees to do their jobs well, you’re also reaping dividends when it comes to attracting the best talent.

There’s more than one way to share knowledge

Knowledge sharing has evolved significantly over time, transitioning from traditional methods to more modern approaches. In the past, knowledge was primarily shared through in-person interactions such as meetings, seminars‌ and workshops. These methods can still be effective, but they’re limited by factors such as time, location‌ and the number of participants.

In contrast, modern methods of knowledge sharing leverage technology to overcome these limitations. These methods include:

1. Online collaboration tools. Software such as Slack and Google Docs empower teams to collaborate through shared documents and messages. In Slack, you can integrate all your favorite collaboration tools so you’re not constantly switching between apps.
2. Knowledge management systems. These systems provide a centralized repository for storing, organizing‌ and sharing knowledge. Apps like Notion and Confluence often include features such as search, tagging‌ and version control, making it easier for employees to find and access the information they need.
3. Social learning. Social media and online forums provide platforms for employees to share their expertise and learn from others. This can be particularly valuable for organizations with geographically dispersed teams or those looking to foster a culture of continuous learning.
4. Virtual training and workshops. Webinars, online courses‌ and virtual workshops enable employees to gain knowledge and skills without the need for in-person attendance. These methods can be particularly cost-effective and convenient for organizations with remote teams or limited training budgets.
5. Peer learning. This involves employees sharing knowledge and experiences with their colleagues. It can take various forms, such as mentoring, coaching‌ and on-the-job training. Peer learning fosters a sense of community and encourages continuous improvement within the organization.

How to encourage knowledge sharing

Adopt a people-first approach

Knowledge sharing isn’t just about creating a knowledge base or setting up a few internal wikis. In fact, the most valuable knowledge is tacit—experiential and intuitive know-how that includes cultural beliefs, values and attitudes—not explicit. And tacit knowledge is much harder to store within a knowledge management system or database.

As a result, a growing emphasis has been placed on a “switchboard”-style of knowledge sharing, which requires the willingness of teammates to help one another out. But if teams are working in silos, then their access to knowledge is going to be curtailed no matter the knowledge management tools at their disposal, making it harder for an organization to achieve peak performance.

To keep people engaged, any knowledge management tool you invest in, whether it’s a document management system or collaboration platform, needs to be designed around a people-first philosophy.

Customize your knowledge base

A successful organization connects everything they need to do their work into one place. This allows for easier collaboration and information sharing among team members, promoting a more efficient and productive work environment.

For Slack users, you can connect your company’s most-used apps to get the data you need right when you need them. Slack’s key collaboration tools include integrations with Google Drive, Dropbox, Zoom and HubSpot.

Leverage AI and automation to get answers faster

Modern technologies can help you find what you’re looking for faster. For example, with AI-powered search in Slack, users can get instant, tailored answers to questions. Instead of asking someone for information every time you need it, tap into your entire organization’s shared knowledge base instead—saving everyone valuable time along the way.

Lead by example

A knowledge-sharing culture ultimately requires a positive work environment in which employees are encouraged to collaborate, work cross-functionally and genuinely get to know one another. That environment creates engaged teams that yield concrete returns. A recent Gallup study found that organizations with highly engaged employees outperform competitors with less engaged workers by a vast margin of 147%.

To cultivate a healthy collaboration culture:

1. Leadership needs to lead by example, making themselves accessible to employees at routine intervals.
2. Encourage regular feedback cycles among employees, management and departments.
3. Prioritize psychological safety to ensure that employees feel comfortable sharing expertise with one another without fear of competition or job instability. It also ensures that employees are open about what they don’t know.

Share knowledge with Slack

Slack is a knowledge base in and of itself (fun fact: Slack stands for a Searchable Log of All Conversation and Knowledge). Our search-friendly archive makes the platform a one-stop shop for storing and sharing knowledge securely:

• Find everything. Need to find a conversation with your manager from a year ago? A document you sent in a channel last month? What about your colleague’s reply to a thread from last week? Done. Instantly find the info you need so you can focus on your work.

• Narrow your search. Customize search filters to specify your search so you can find that message, file, channel or person even faster. With such a robust knowledge base at your fingertips, adjustable filters help you home in on specific details with ease.

• Information, anywhere. Slack’s search features function just as well in the Slack mobile app, so you don’t need to wait until you’re back at your desk to get the answers you need. Search your company’s Slack archive from any smart device.

The more you share in Slack, the more knowledge becomes saved and searchable for future reference. From collaborating in channels to documenting in a canvas and collaborating in threads after a real-time huddle, Slack is built to make knowledge sharing more pleasant and productive.