Detachment supports objectivity; disengagement erodes care. RIM professionals must remain invested without absorbing every frustration. The boundary is personal and learned. Longevity depends on it. Questions 1. Where do you feel close to disengagement? 2. What pulls you back? Action - Reconnect with one part of the work you value.

RIM teams are often framed as cleaners of organisational mess. This undervalues strategic contribution and creates frustration. The emotional impact accumulates over time. Naming this matters. Questions 1. Where do you feel this perception most strongly? 2. How do you respond to it? Action - Acknowledge one contribution that went unseen.

A business unit wants to retain records well beyond the approved retention period “just in case they might be useful later”. There is no legal hold and no documented business justification. What would you do? - Enforce disposal strictly? - Allow an exception? - Ask for justification and document the decision? - Escalate the risk? Explain your reasoning, not just your decision.

Good records management is often built on small, repeatable habits rather than large initiatives. One useful habit is pausing to ask: “Is this information still needed, and for what purpose?” This question supports better retention decisions and reduces unnecessary accumulation over time. Reflection questions: - Where does information tend to accumulate “just in case”? - What makes disposal feel risky in your organisation? Action: Identify one area where disposal could happen more confidently.

Strong records management is not about having perfect policies. It is about being able to explain and defend decisions when challenged. Experienced practitioners focus on clarity, proportionality, and documentation. They accept trade-offs and prioritise effort where risk is highest. Reflection questions: 1. Which records decision would be hardest to defend today? 2. What evidence would support that decision? Action: Identify one decision that would benefit from clearer documentation.