It has been said that knowledge is power, but is power what you’re really in search of? Knowledge is the combination of listening, learning, making mistakes, and simply living. It takes time to acquire knowledge if we’re talking about well-rounded and much needed wisdom that can really help others. The people that have helped or guided me through life up to this point all had similar traits that I feel are very important to possess…they made mistakes of their own, they admitted their mistakes, and ultimately (and most importantly) they were willing to share those mistakes with me! That knowledge that they passed along allowed me to not make the same mistakes they did. For that, I will be forever grateful.
Book knowledge is important and I encourage everyone to soak up as much formal or informal education as they can. I can say that as a person who disliked high school, but eventually managed to get a master’s degree in his 40’s. Having said that, there is no better way to learn and gain knowledge than by actually doing something. Who better to teach you how to bake than a baker? A police officer is better equipped to teach a recruit how to stay alive because they’ve had to do that exact thing over and over again. These are both examples of folks who gained knowledge by “doing”.
Sometimes you have to step outside of the comfortable box to get better at what you do. Don’t be afraid to push the envelope, try new things, or actually take chances. Mistakes will be made, but it is those mistakes that make your knowledge even more valuable to others. If you’re a leader or supervisor, consider giving your subordinates the ability and encouragement to take those chances. It empowers them and makes them feel valued and supported. There are always boundaries that shouldn’t be crossed, but the rewards will be immediate when you show faith and trust in those you lead.
The question posed in this blog is a simple one…what good is knowledge? You may feel differently, but I believe that knowledge is good and best used when it is shared. We are all replaceable, so think about succession planning. Pass along your knowledge, so the drum will keep beating should something happen to you. Don’t look at mistakes as failures, but consider them to be learning opportunities for you and others. If you think you’re the smartest person in the room, you’re probably not. There are two things that everyone can do to improve their knowledge base, watch and listen! Take the good things that you see and implement them in your own life. Remember the things that you dislike and avoid doing them.
We are all different, but I try to be an options type person. Having made more mistakes than most, I tend to give people options and ask them to determine what action they should take. Let them think it through and hopefully they’ll select the option that allows them to avoid making the same mistake(s) that you did. If not, oh well…that’s on them. There is a good possibility that you’ve worked hard at something, be it a specific trade, talent, or profession and you’ve become really good at it. If you want to feel some sense of accomplishment, share some of that hard earned knowledge with others. Don’t be selfish and let it go to waste.
