Tag Archives: Knowledge

Knowledge vs Wisdom

Many people believe, that in order to be successful in a leadership position, you must be the smartest person in the room and have all the answers or else you will appear to be weak. They tend to think a leader should have a complete set of skills, characteristics, and abilities to handle any problem, challenge, or opportunity that comes along. No one is an expert in everything and the strongest businesses are built on the contributions of the entire team – not on one person. Leaders do not have to be the smartest person in the room, rather they create an environment where the best ideas can come from anywhere and possess the wisdom and confidence to choose the best action from many to guarantee results. Knowledge can be thought of as possessing information, while wisdom can be thought of possessing experience.  Knowledge can exist without wisdom, but not the other way around. One can be knowledgeable without being wise. Strong leaders listen to their teams, ask the right questions, and give everyone the chance to contribute. With the right people in place, you can take a step back to focus on your strengths – like leading your team and planning your company’s future. Know how to take the collective knowledge of the organization, and apply the right amount of wisdom to put it to good use.