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Personal Knowledge Management (PKM) is the set of actions applied to our personal knowledge. This includes learning, sharing, writing, teaching, imagining, and forgetting. The focus is on Personal Knowledge: what we know and can apply. It may well be that you have always been practicing PKM without knowing it.
If we focus on the Knowledge Management part of the definition, our attention is drawn to the systematic organisation and use of such processes. It is not a random practice of browsing the news, making notes and occasional reflective thinking but a virtuous circle of practice to build a set of competencies toward a goal.
PKM and self-development
The driver of PKM is professional development. We set our goals at the self-development level, we set measurable objectives of professional development and we sketch our PKM itinerary: steps, milestones and interesting detours. PKM is the engine of professional development and where most action takes place. A well executed PKM practice helps us achieve our professional development objectives.
How to adopt PKM
PKM is not specific to learning and development. It is practiced in every domain but the form may vary. I learned PKM from my own practice as a manager and I developed tools around it. I observed others, experimented, and I shared what I learned. Many knowledge workers like managers and engineers practice PKM. As it is not the object of intense reflective thinking, it often stays informal.
PKM can be overwhelming. The deluge of free information can be both a bonanza and a threat. It is easy to get trapped into a never-ending habit of consuming information. It is a challenge to make sense of it and keep the information overload at bay. The goal of a pragmatic PKM practice is to become more efficient and organised while keeping time spent on it under control, limit the cognitive load, and preserve our motivation.
Learning and Development and PKM
PKM plays well with independent self-directed learning. PKM brings self-directed learning to a new level where you can control and regulate your learning. It is especially appreciable if you work in a small organisation or by yourself.
As learning and development practitioners, you have several further reasons to become interested in PKM. It will let you...