If You Have a Good Memory

...you are probably amazed at how many people don't.

It can be shocking to see how often people fail to spot significant changes in policies and practices. That's why institutional memory can be so important. Few people read the minutes and fewer still are the times when there are any minutes to be read.

Years ago, when my main job involved the investigation of discrimination cases, I learned the importance of chronologies. Tying down just what was done when, where, how and by whom was the equivalent of a fine microscope. Patterns began to emerge.

It may sound strange to propose adding "historian" to job descriptions, but most jobs have that responsibility.

That is, if they are going to be done well.