Big Bus Theory

You are the only one trained in a critical task and you get hit by a big bus on the way to work and they realize they are screwed for putting all of their eggs in one basket.

Those who are not willing to share knowledge or lessons learned often are ego-centric and derive satisfaction from being the "go-to guy" which strokes their ego, but actually impacts negatively on the organization when the "big bus" wipes them out and there is nobody prepared to fill their shoes while they convalesce or are replaced.

I contend that it is to your benefit to share your knowledge with colleagues.  This will do two things.

1) If you survive the incident and are able to return to work after you recover, your area of responsibility should be in decent shape as coworkers cover for you having the benefit of the things you shared with them earlier. Plus, you look good in your manager's eyes because he/she has little to be concerned about during your absence.

2) If you are the manager and foster an environment of knowledge sharing within the team, you are in pretty good shape if a team member is absent, regardless of the time or circumstances of their vacancy.

When I share knowledge I try to include more than just the steps of a procedure. I try to include background information to help with understanding why some steps are more important than others, and perhaps give an appreciation to the big picture.

One day you may find yourself as a team leader or even a manager. Please remember my big bus theory, and prepare your team well. I feel that cross-training on a regular basis is well worth the investment of time and resources. Think of it as insurance: something we pay for but we hope we never have to use.