Focus on personal development to ensure success.

• Author: Lanter, Amy
• Position: IN FOCUS: A Message from the Editor - Editorial

The records and information management (RIM) profession continues to develop, and staying abreast of the changing landscape has never been more important than it is today. Investing time and money in keeping personal skills up-to-date is an important part of evolving with the business environment. Focusing on personal development has several key benefits, including:

* More effective leadership skills

* Improved communication

* Less workplace conflict

* Better problem-solving skills

* Stronger personal relationships

* Increased confidence

Focusing on personal development prompts you to set goals and take risks. Setting goals requires long-term vision and short-term motivation to take each step that will help you meet them. Looking at the big picture and breaking it down into smaller chunks allows you to see more successes along the way. It's all about making forward progress and taking it to the next level.

In this issue of Information Management (IM), our authors offer some of the best advice on how to succeed in RIM. They address personal development as a part of that, often centering on the common theme of communication and teamwork.

"To truly understand each other, we must have a common language. The same is true in our organizations." Galina Datskovsky, Ph.D., CRM, writes in addressing a common barrier RIM professionals face. For those working to get a "seat at the table," an important step is to learn the language of information governance, which is relevant to the C-suite and other key business unit leaders. Leveraging the Generally Accepted Record-keeping Principles[R] (GARP[R]) as a communication tool can help achieve this goal.

Implementing a sound records management strategy also requires good communication, as well as an organization-wide, cooperative effort, writes Teresa Schoch, J.D., CRM, in her article "Turning the Ship Around with a Four-Generation Crew." With four generations...