By:

As business becomes increasingly based upon knowledge and ideas, it’s […]

As business becomes increasingly based upon knowledge and ideas, it’s becoming more important for knowledge workers to become more “information literate” -– comfortable with continuous learning, creative thinking and problem-solving and who have the ability to synthesize diverse bits of information to form new insights and ideas. In his new book, “Content Critical,” author Gerry McGovern outlines the characteristics and skills of the information literate:

They read a lot, are hungry for new ideas, and are always inquisitive.

They have strong research skills. They know where to go to find information, and don’t depend on a single content source. They know how to cope with information overload, and are able to quickly tell good information from bad.

They write well, and know who they are writing for. They have the ability to synopsize what they have found and turn it into new content. They have the skills and the ability to collaborate with others in the creation of new content.

They are able to turn their content into persuasive presentations, and are comfortable making presentations in front of a group.

(They) know how to commission new content and (are) able to quickly judge its quality. They… know how to manage writers — to encourage them and get the best out of them. They must know how to select the most exciting and relevant content and position it appropriately on the home page.

An interesting skill set, wouldn’t you agree?