In our culture it is said knowledge is power. Living in the information age, we have an abundance of articles and books to read, workshops to attend – knowledge is everywhere.
The reality is, knowledge is only potential power and it’s not until it’s applied that it becomes power, through insights and discoveries. I was fortunate to attend Ryerson University in Canada. That institution instilled in its students that knowledge must be applied in order for it to become power. In fact, “wisdom applied” was Ryerson’s tagline for many years. You had to attend the lectures, take notes and write the papers. Then you actually had to do something with the knowledge. Ryerson’s approach to learning was never passive, and focused on application.
Living in a world abundant with knowledge, with highly skilled and motivated people, there has never been a greater need to create organizations where wisdom is applied. Here are three concepts to think about as you move towards creating a “wisdom applied” human performance culture.
Experimentation culture
By creating a culture of experimentation, people and teams are encouraged and supported to try different approaches to solving problems. It is done by experimenting with existing products and creating new and innovative solutions. Letting people fail and learn is one of the best ways to create a “wisdom applied” human performance culture. Allowing people the opportunity to experiment often leads to positive impact on employee engagement and satisfaction.
Reflective thinking
Often we find ourselves running around during our fast-paced days, just doing what needs to get done so we can go home at 5 p.m. This type of working style often doesn’t leave time for reflective thinking. The reality is, with some of the biggest challenges, many organizations and teams require some amount of reflective thinking in order to identify those challenges and develop solutions. Reflective thinking is an essential skill used by many high-performing athletes who are committed to applying their wisdom to improve performance.
Continuous learning
“Wisdom applied” human performance cultures all share the common value for continuous learning, both formal and informal. Learning is often viewed as the fuel or source of motivation for continuous improvement for their products and services.
Those cultures understand the importance of activity using newly acquired knowledge in order to remain innovative and creative in our modern work economy.
All the best in achieving your highest performance.
Paul
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