Thursday, Oct 1 keynote at TCUK 2015. Andrea's "top 10" ways technical communicators can work to drive change and break boundaries.

1. Technical Communicators:
Breaking Boundaries and Driving Change
Andrea L. Ames
TCUK 2015 Keynote – October 1, 2015

2. Your current safe boundaries
were once unknown frontiers
Boundaries

3. 10. Think systems, not discrete events
 Everything is interrelated, and content is everywhere
 Be sure to consider what might result further down
the line

4. 9. Do your homework
 To break the rules “well” and create art, understand
where the boundaries are and what defines them
 You will be better able to break through others’
boundaries, as well

5. 8. Don’t say “that’s not my job”
 Practice professionalism in content—own it
 Own the entirety of the content experience—
strategy, design, development, delivery…

6. 7. Be a consultant
 Don’t get too emotionally involved in your agenda
 Objectively tell your story with data and advise

7. 6. Communicate, communicate, communicate
 Clearly articulate your agenda in the language of
your stakeholders
 Manage those stakeholders continually through
stories that further your agenda

8. Change…it’s gorgeous at the end

9. 5. Acknowledge the result of not changing
 What will happen if you don’t?
 Will it be better or worse than changing?

10. 4. Be willing to be uncomfortable
 Embrace ambiguity as a reality and a necessity
 Step outside your comfort zone

11. 3. Stop fighting for the old; start building the new
 What if everything 10 years from now was exactly as
it is today? Would you be happy? Satisfied?
 Focus your energy productively

12. 2. Be the change that you want to see
 Model the behavior to build trust around you
 Gather followers on the path to change

13. 1. Recognize that change is a process, not an event
 It won’t happen on its own, and it’s often hard
 You must “practice” it consciously

15. The Top 10
Boundaries
10. Think systems, not
discrete events
9. Do your homework
8. Don’t say “that’s not my
job”
7. Be a consultant
6. Communicate,
communicate,
communicate
Change
5. Acknowledge the result
of not changing
4. Be willing to be
uncomfortable
3. Stop fighting for the
old; start building the new
2. Be the change that you
want to see
1. Recognize that change
is a process, not an event