Factual KNOWLEDGE + UNDERSTANDING + Experiential KNOWLEDGE = PROFESSIONAL WISDOM

FACTUAL KNOWLEDGE (FK)

Knowing facts and figures and even the Laws of Nature and Business Rules are not sufficient to make wise decisions. Even if you just graduated from College or University your knowledge is wonderful and necessary, but not sufficient.You may have, at your fingertips, amazing statistical data, how to use certain computer programs and methods, know the names of all the countries your company is dealing with – but those facts alone will not make you understand the very different cultures of your clients in a global world. For example, do you have a real understanding of the various countries value systems, their history and the language – which is often essential for effective communication unless you are discussing simply commodities?

UNDERSTANDING

Your knowledge base now has to be sharpened by contact with the real world by enhancing your deeper understanding. This in turn requires you to dig deeper, maybe do some more research, get a good mentor and as a result see your discipline and work environment in a bigger picture context. Using the example of your client’s culture, study up these backgrounds – do not rely on what you read in a tourist brochure, a YouTube video or anecdotal stories from others – although sometimes this might help.Make a serious effort to understand the sensitivities of the people in that culture.

EXPERIENTIAL KNOWLEDGE(EK)

EK is the key to deeper Insight. When you tell a child “the stove is hot – do not touch” (FK) the learning process is only accomplished when they tried it and experience that it is HOT and what that means. The child now has EK. A great step forward in the learning process. It may be a very simply analogy, but in the professional environment mistakes made and wrong calls are those “hot stove” experiences. The practical real world teaches us which assumptions of ours are valid, which are not. It requires awareness and caring and intentionality, ie willingness to learn. Thus, it teaches us insight and understanding in a larger context and makes us professionally more mature. That’s why in engineering we say “Hardware makes you humble”. This is equally applicable to a theoretical physicist, Geologist or Geneticist as well as to an apprentice in any trade.

Note: FK + EK would do well with a serious dash of Humility to make better professional decisions.