A Renovation of Technical Communication

By Brodie Hilp

Judy Glick-Smith, president of STC, spoke at the January meeting of EBSTC. Her topic was "Embracing Change: Designing the Future of Technical Communication."

It must be a sign of the times, a post–September 11 phenomenon: people are looking for the meaning of their lives, even in their lives as technical communicators. At the December meeting, William Thompson spoke on understanding our response to job layoffs by first soul-searching our response to September 11. In January, our speaker, Judy Glick-Smith, gave us insights in technical communication leadership, but only after first developing a philosophy of life, whose principles guided her talk. Can these soul-searching experiences guide us to a renewal of our profession? Are we beginning a professional renaissance?

Quantum Mechanics and Technical Communication?

Judy is one of those rare people who crave a unifying way to view our everyday life. From the science of quantum mechanics, Judy has derived a philosophy that has insights for technical communicators. Quantum mechanics is the study of light as particle waves (as opposed to light as wavelengths). To learn more about light as particles, scientists must disturb the particles in order to measure them. Thus, this phenomenon can be studied only when it is in a relationship with the scientific manipulation. It is this dependency of relationships that was the center of Judy’s talk.

Some of the highlights of Judy’s talk concerned our relationships with leaders. She advocated leadership with the attitude of being a servant, having standards but no expectations of return. She lamented how technical communication is a cottage industry without a real voice in corporate leadership. She raised the bar by suggesting that we cultivate leadership qualities in ourselves, by learning to lead leaders!

One proactive suggestion is to take a leader to lunch and "sell" the importance of our work, our product documentation. She also advocated self-leadership. For example, talk with technical support to identify the most frequently asked question, and then write a special section in the next user guide about this issue. By documenting how you helped reduce technical support calls on this issue, you can "sell" leaders on how product documentation affects the bottom line.

Seek the Positive and Discard the Negative

Another highlight of Judy’s talk concerned our relationships with co-workers. She delved into ideas such as protecting ourselves from negative influences of other people. She suggested to:

  • Avoid people who depress or discourage you
  • Recognize your susceptibility to suggestions that "harmonize with your weaknesses"
  • Recognize your susceptibility to common fears: poverty, criticism, ill health, loss of love, old age, and death

Her positive suggestions included that we "take relationship responsibility." She suggested learning others’ strengths, performance modes, and values. And above all, don’t take other people’s actions personally.

These highlights give you an idea of Judy’s astute wisdom, derived from a desire to find a philosophy of life. As President of STC, Judy brings not just a vision for Technical Communication, but also a renaissance.

References

Leadership and the New Science, Margaret J. Wheatley, Berrett-Koehler Pub, 2001
Servant Leadership, Robert K. Greenleaf, Paulist Press, 1983
Life Strategies, Dr. Phillip McGraw, Hyperion Press, 2000
Management Challenges for the 21st Century, Dr. Peter Drucker, Harper Business, 2001

The Devil Mountain Views -- Mar/Apr 2002
(ebstc.org/newsletter/front.html)
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