Not yours personally, but that of where you work. Knowledge is so easy taken for granted. I’m not talking about the smarts that come from formal education. I’m talking about the wisdom that evolves from experience, practice and, over time, mastery. Take a minute to reflect on the job-related skills and insights you have and you’ll understand what I mean.
But then there are those who are following in your footsteps. I hear so many complaints from workplace veterans about
the young people who have no “common sense.” But even if we could truly define it, we would conclude that common sense is a product of experience via trial and error. It takes time to acquire and longer to master.
So when someone possessing a depth of wisdom in a particular specialty leaves the organization leaves unexpectedly, we scramble to fill the gap in expertise. Yet, with a generation of skilled contributors preparing to leave the workforce over the next decade, what are we really doing to capture this knowledge proactively so it can be passed along, saving time, money and heartburn?
Right now, we are grappling with economic challenges, high unemployment, the evolution into a digital economy and competition from abroad. But there will always be something. Time marches on and knowledge transfer is the 800 pound gorilla in most organizations that requires care and feeding.
How do you begin? By beginning. Are there solutions to this challenge? Sure, but they will never be accomplished with a quick fix. Knowledge takes time to acquire. It also takes time to transfer, especially when the emerging generation is not sold on it’s value or relevance. But we must begin.
The Center has published a special report on this issue entitled Knowledge Transfer and the Emerging Generations. Take a few minutes to read it and frame the challenge within your organization.