Tag Archives: gain

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knowledge equalizer

Knowledge Equalizer and What You Study

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Knowledge is often considered to be power. Those in the know versus those who don’t know. What you study may be the great knowledge equalizer.

Jack’s hobby is gardening. He knows much more about growing vegetables than the average person. He reads everything he can find about creating the perfect gardening environment.

Susan loves cosmetics and beauty aids. She watches hours of makeup videos, reads on-line blogs on the subject, and knows hundreds of tricks and tips.

James is into big diesel pickup trucks. He watches videos, studies hop-up literature, and attends every swamp meet he can find. His truck is awesome and everyone in his small town seeks him out for diesel hop-up advice.

Technology and Knowledge

Just three decades ago it was much harder to access information.

In the workplace, the data processing department held the key to what you wanted to know, only, very few could access it.

Green bar continuous form paper spewed from line printers in climate-controlled rooms with false floors. The computer operator assembled reports in 14 7/8 inch hanging binders.

A few of the more advanced executives had a green or amber monochrome monitor in the corner of their office but many those didn’t know how to log on.

Knowledge was definitely power, only very few had access.

Knowledge Equalizer

Today it is a completely different World for those in first World countries. Information, lots of information is available right at your fingertips.

You can read, listen, and watch information right from the palm of your hand. You can study whatever you choose. If you study the information, becoming knowledgeable about a subject happens faster than ever before.

Certainly, data reliability and validity matter. The quality of information sources needs to be scrutinized. Facts will always need to be separated from opinions. Yet, the opportunity to gain power through knowledge has never been easier.

What should you know more about?

What are you reading, watching, and studying?

Is there information to help you build your career?

Knowledge is the great equalizer.

-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.


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knowledge acquisition

Speaking of Knowledge Acquisition

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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.


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