>>Has anyone put together a list of characteristics or aptitudes that
people should possess to be a good fit to do records work?<<

Nolene,

I have never put together a formal list of characteristics but can
provide some that I think are very helpful.

1. Innovative - Willing to actively look for new and better ways to meet
organizational and RM needs.
2. Curious - Wanting to know why the status quo is the status quo and
what it would take to change it.
3. Perfectionist - Good enough never is in records management.
4. Willing to learn - Experimentation is a great thing, especially if
you can use others to keep you out of the deep weeds.
5. A communicator - The ability to talk shop with everyone from
accounting to zookeepers and have them believe that your completely
understand their business needs and operational environment.
6. Visionary - Knowing where you want to go makes it a lot easier to
know when you have arrived.
7. Patient - Change takes time, don't expect folks to change years of
practice just because you say they should (or have to).
8. Independent - A lot of RM activates are done by the individual not be
the team.  
9. Intelligent - There is a lot to learn.  Learn about how your
organization uses records, then learn how others do it, then how the
experts think everyone ought to do it, then about the technological
tools that vendors say will automate it, then put together something
that really works.
10. Team player - An organization is like a sandbox, play well with
others and you get to play longer.

In addition, every good RM practitioner has a memory like a whole herd
of African elephants with names like What, Where, When, Why, How, CFR,
HIIPA, SOX...

Bill R

Bill Roach, CRM
Enterprise EDMS Coordinator
State of North Dakota
ITD/Records Management
701-328-3589

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