The Reluctant Intrapreneur: Becoming the Info Center CEO

The Reluctant INTRApreneurMary Ellen BatesReluctant-Entrepreneur.comJune 12, 2016

@mebs Reluctant-Entrepreneur.com

Tweeting this?#[email protected]/maryellenbates

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An intrapreneur’s tool kitEntrepreneurial mindsetYour key clients & servicesEntrepreneurial language

3BatesInfo.com

4Jessica Hagy is very funny. See thisisindexed.com for these and other fun graphics.


Thinking like an entrepreneurAsk “why?”

Curious, question the status quoAsk “why not?”

Ask forgiveness, not permission

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Service & client mindsetThey’re not always right, but they’re our clients

Future-focusedProactive, not reactive

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Thinking like an entrepreneur


Create, seek out opportunitiesFail fast, fail often

Learn from every experienceLive at the edge of your comfort zone

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Complaining Problem-solving mindset

Results-oriented“Ideas are easy. Implementation is hard”. –Guy Kawasaki

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Are you seen as overhead?… or involved in your org’s strategic goals

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Are you making a difference to your clients?How are you more valuable than your competitors?

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Are you frictionless?How easy is it to find you?How easy is it to talk with you?How responsive do your clients say you are?

Have you asked them lately?

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ASK for complaintsDid you get what you needed?How easy was it to use?What would make it more useful?

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Who are your competitors?What else do users rely on?How do they access information? Are you as easy as their smart phone?How can you compete?

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Who are your key clients?C-suite or equivalent

Special projects teamsStrategic planning, new initiatives

Value-creators, revenue-generatorsProduct development, major gifts officer, practice group leader…

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Are you client-driven?Are you creating new info-pain solutions? or are you just keeping up with requests?Collaborate more, rip-n-ship less

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We love ALL our clients, but…Triage the important from the urgentIs this the best use of your time?Do an annual 20/20 Review

Turn lowest-value 20% to self-serveEnhance value for highest-value 20%

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Purge your assumptions bufferWhat is most valuable now?What should you retire?Who is doing interesting things?What’s the scariest thing you could do next?

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Offering greater valueGood information isn’t enough (TL;DR)Provide answersTell a story, with pictures!

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What they really valueSenior executives

Reduce risk, better decisionsKnowledge workers/analysts

Better info, better answersSales staff, interns, “learning users”

Quicker, better answers

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Show higher valueCreate library of deliverable templates

Polished, user-friendly, distilledOffer insights, narrativesProvide decision-ready deliverables

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Explore the questions they didn’t askRequest:I need info on hackers getting into cars’ onboard computers

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Explore the questions they didn’t askWhat geographic region?What companies are mentioned?Who is writing about it?Who’s being quoted?Was this one-time or ongoing?

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2016 Info LandscapeGoogle is greatAll searchers are above averageFree is goodToo much info is bad

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How do we respond? Are you choosing the best tool?Are you finding answers or just info?Can we get you better answers?Do you know when to bring in a pro?

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Dare to compare!ID a group that doesn’t use the libraryShow them a better web searchShow them what else you offer

Faster, easier, tangibly betterMonitor results

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Open their eyes...Show them the best search tools

Open web: Beyond Google’s first page of resultsSocial media: power searchingPremium search services

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How to communicate this?


Are you counting what matters?Activity metrics

Econtent usage, # of research requestsUseful for administrationBORING……

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Results metricsPatents awarded, clients won, awards received…

Don’t know your impact? ASK!

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Are you counting what matters?


Know what an hour costs$100k salary = $72/hour (fully loaded)Minutes add up

6-member team saves 1 hour/member/week = $20k/year

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Own your expertise!Library studies consistently show ROI of 4:1

Info pros take 1/3 the time to searchInfo pros use more search termsInfo pros go to page 2 of search results

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Create meaningful KPIsCost-effectiveness

Cost of services / org’s total revenueCost of resource / circulation

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Meaningful KPIsImpact on organization

Effective engagement with faculty to support students’ information skillsEffective outreach to stakeholders, resulting in {action on stakeholder’s part}

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Meaningful KPIsImpact on revenue

% of product teams partnered with # of regulatory approvals involved inImproved product-to-market delivery time

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As an (internal) entrepreneur, you…leverage financial resources through strategic info acquisitionsenable smart risk-takingensure better-informed decisions

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Free Dow Jones white papersThe True ROI of Digital Content

is.gd/bates_ROIThe Accidental Intrapreneur

is.gd/bates_intrapreneur

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Mary Ellen [email protected]–Entrepreneur.comTwitter: @mebsSlides: slideshare.net/maryellenbates

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The Reluctant Intrapreneur: Becoming the Info Center CEO

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