Call me "The Data Curator”
“Data curation is the process of creating, organising and maintaining data sets so people looking for information can access and use them.”*
But why should we care about data curation?
It's a GREAT question; I remember back in 2015, when I was just encountering the concept of knowledge management, it was one of the first questions that I would receive. The follow up would inevitably be something like:
“Why should we put so much effort/thought into this?”
“How is this going to solve [X specific issue]?”
"My relationships are what drive my business; they haven't let me down yet!”
“I didn't even think this was an issue - I think we're all set, but thanks for asking!”
I didn't have the best answer at the time - gaining any real results to prove my point meant manual manipulation of data and SO. MANY. MANUAL. PROCESSES. I distinctly recall in one of my first roles as a Data Insight & Training Manager the effort required in applying skills tags - the classic example for anyone invested in knowledge management "best practices”. Everything required massive effort on the team; and critically, without manpower, little could be achieved to create the "perfect” database. In short, a firm's relationships could not be harnessed well from within a database.
So I re-phrase the initial question - why should we care NOW?
The answer is simply that times have changed (obvious statement there!). With the invention of automated processes, use of AI, integration capabilities, and much more, the ability to bring data into systems is so much more viable, accessible and impactful. We can now reframe those questions from above to:
What data do we bring in (and why)?
How is that data empowering our search workflow?
Can it unlock the [X] offering we've been wanting to release for a while?
AND THE BIG ONE…
How else can we empower the business with this data and super charge our existing relationships?
There is unlimited potential to what a company can achieve when they start to unlock their data and consider - "how should we curate it?”
Data Curation is a key element in your knowledge management journey - I often see it as the mechanism and practice of bringing it all together, making sure your efforts and investment in data and knowledge "make sense” at the end of the day. Data curation:
Ensures data is searchable and can be accessed easily by the team.
Establishes trust in systems which both encourages usage by the team AND discourages the storing of data in the wrong avenues.
Rejects the concept of "garbage in, garbage out.” What's in your system is meant to be there and is used for a specific purpose!
Allows for key visibility to assess business health.
Creates a culture of "data care and confidentiality” which can bolster and reassure your key client and candidate relationships.
Data Curation provides the space to consider - "what's next” on your knowledge transformation journey!
So think of me as the “Data Curator…”*
…ready to take on your challenges to ensure your information is prepped, managed, and ready for use. Let me structure the processes, investigate new avenues, and train your team on what they should look out for/pay attention to. Let me unlock some of those key relationships waiting to engage.
I'll conclude by sharing an excerpt from this article** on the ongoing balance of data + relationships.
"In the world of executive recruitment, data and relationships are both essential. Data gives you the strategic edge, but relationships ensure you’re connecting with the right people in the right way. When you bring these two forces together, you’re not just finding candidates—you’re finding leaders who will propel your organization forward.
So, how do you strike the right balance in your recruitment process? Do you lean more on data, or do you prioritize building relationships? Or maybe you’ve mastered the art of blending both—because that’s where the real magic happens."**
Let's make magic happen!
*https://www.techtarget.com/searchbusinessanalytics/definition/data-curation
**https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/data-relationships-key-executive-recruitment-xsrie/
