Speaking of Knowledge Acquisition
Is your career on track? Are you leading an employee department or team? What are you doing about knowledge acquisition?
I feel fortunate to meet so many new people through my work. Some are executives, some are front-line hard chargers. All of them face similar decisions about what happens next with their career or employee teams.
Two Problems for Knowledge Acquisition
The first problem is how fast you are able to acquire it. Once you have obtained the knowledge, you can start making positive change. A long road to knowledge acquisition means you are wasting precious time.
The second problem with knowledge acquisition is what you do with the new knowledge. Knowledge gained, but not used, doesn’t have much value. Practice and application of new knowledge is critical for change.
Therefore, there are at least two questions you should be asking yourself.
How can I gain more knowledge faster?
How can I ensure it is practiced?
Whether you are considering your own individual career or the development of employee teams, these questions apply.
Opportunity Cost
While there are not any real shortcuts, there are costs associated with opportunities missed. Learning can occur in many ways, how are you helping with forward progress? Have you hired a coach, a consultant, or attended educational opportunities?
What happens after a learning event? What will you give up in order to make room for something new? If you feel you are at or near capacity, you’re going to have to give something up.
Giving stuff up may be easier than you think. You can give up reliving past negative experiences. You can skip the energy it takes to participate in the workplace drama. Perhaps you have to stop fighting fires and start thinking more strategically.
Knowledge acquisition starts with an opportunity. What happens next is really up to you.
-DEG
Dennis E. Gilbert is a business consultant, speaker (CSPTM), and culture expert. He is a five-time author and the founder of Appreciative Strategies, LLC. His business focuses on positive human performance improvement solutions through Appreciative Strategies®. Reach him through his website at Dennis-Gilbert.com or by calling +1 646.546.5553.
