Gurteen Knowledge Letter
Issue 248 – February 2021
Introduction
This is the third issue of my Knowledge Letter in its new format and location, and so far, so good. I hope you are enjoying it and the close integration with my blook.
The third annual Conversational Leadership workshop is coming up very soon in April, and the early bird price closes on the 1st of March. So now would be a good time to register if you are interested.
Contents
- Proposed free speech law to fight deplatforming in universities
Unnecessary bureaucracy? - Talking rubbish
It is through taking rubbish we make sense of the world - What does Pope Francis know about Knowledge Management?
Quite a lot it would seem - Are vague ideas sometimes better than firm ones?
Maybe vague ideas are at the heart of being creative - Knowledge alone is not power or is it?
Seems not everyone agrees - Ten questions for work that matters
What contribution are you making? - Help Keep My Work Alive
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Proposed free speech law to fight deplatforming in universities
Unnecessary bureaucracy?
I wrote about the need for freedom of speech in Universities recently, but I am not sure making it a legal requirement is such a good idea.
The UK government is to introduce legislation that will enable academics, students or visiting speakers who are no-platformed to sue universities for compensation where they feel they have suffered because of free speech infringements.
Credit: The Guardian
Talking rubbish
It is through taking rubbish we make sense of the world
At times, "talking rubbish" can be a good thing. Let me explain.
Too often in a conversation, while trying to make sense of an issue, we find ourselves saying something that we immediately realize is ill-conceived.
Our conversational partner picks up on it a little more quickly than we do and attacks us. We cannot help but go on the defense, and the free flow of the conversation is destroyed.
If our partner is a good conversationalist, however, they do not attack us, but that is another story. More and more, I find myself using the following words in a conversation.
I’m thinking out loud here; what I say could well be a load of rubbish, so please bear with me.
Then when I’m informed that I am talking a load of rubbish, I can quickly reply, "I told you so," and laugh. The conversation then naturally moves on.
Jordan Peterson explains why it is crucial to talk rubbish in this video clip on the importance of free speech.
Paradoxically, at times, it is through talking rubbish that we make sense of the world.
What does Pope Francis know about Knowledge Management?
Quite a lot it would seem
What does Pope Francis know about Knowledge Management? Quite a lot, it would seem to judge from this excerpt of an interview with him.
Proselytism is solemn nonsense, it makes no sense.
We need to get to know each other, listen to each other and improve our knowledge of the world around us.
Sometimes after a meeting I want to arrange another one because new ideas are born and I discover new needs.
This is important: to get to know people, listen, expand the circle of ideas.
The world is crisscrossed by roads that come closer together and move apart, but the important thing is that they lead towards the Good.
Are vague ideas sometimes better than firm ones?
Maybe vague ideas are at the heart of being creative
I rather like this thought about ideas from Pablo Picasso.
You have to have an idea of what you are going to do, but it should be a vague idea.
Credit: Pablo Picasso
In other words, we don't necessarily need a clear, crisp, sharp idea or vision. A hazy one, a sense of vague direction may sometimes be better as we are then more likely to explore along the journey and make serendipitous discoveries.
Maybe vague ideas are at the heart of being creative.
Knowledge alone is not power or is it?
Seems not everyone agrees
I recently posted this quotation on LinkedIn where Michael Schrage states that Knowledge Management is a bullshit issue.
I think "knowledge management" is a bullshit issue. Let me tell you why.
I can give you perfect information, I can give you perfect knowledge and it won't change your behavior one iota.
People choose not to change their behavior because the culture and the imperatives of the organization make it too difficult to act upon the knowledge.
Knowledge is not the power. Power is power. The ability to act on knowledge is power.
Most people in most organizations do not have the ability to act on the knowledge they possess.
End of story.
It has had a mixed response. Some people agree; others disagree. Take a look here and add your own thoughts.
Ten questions for work that matters
What contribution are you making?
I love Seth Godin's blog. Almost every post is short, and each one is a gem. Here is a lovely example titled Ten questions for work that matters.
What are you doing that's difficult?
What are you doing that people believe only you can do?
Who are you connecting?
What do people say when they talk about you?
What are you afraid of?
What's the scarce resource?
Who are you trying to change?
What does the change look like?
Would we miss your work if you stopped making it?
What do you stand for?
What contribution are you making?Hints: Any question that's difficult to answer deserves more thought. Any answers that are meandering, nuanced, or complex are probably a symptom of something important.
Credit: Ten questions for work that matters by Seth Godin
Take a few moments to run through these questions in your head, and answer each one briefly.
Help Keep My Work Alive
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If my work has made a difference to you, I’d be grateful if you could consider supporting it. A small monthly donation or any one-off contribution would greatly help cover some of my website hosting costs.
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Gurteen Knowledge Letter
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David Gurteen
Gurteen Knowledge
Fleet, United Kingdom
