The 3 Gaps That Exist in 2021

In 2021, I see a huge societal gap between these three areas:

1. No knowledge → Having Knowledge

2. Having Knowledge → Application of Knowledge

3. Application of Knowledge → Communication of Knowledge (Knowledge exchange)

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1. No knowledge → Having Knowledge

Case and point — education leaders today know that students are coming to schools with different questions than they were 15 years ago. Instead of asking questions about content that they can google in 3 minutes, they are asking deeper questions around their sense of purpose, belonging and who they are as a person. Their ability to go from no knowledge to knowledge is short in that knowledge can be gained easily in 2019.

The larger gaps are what I really want to write about.

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2. Having Knowledge → Application of Knowledge

The gap between having knowledge (whether googled or learned from person to person interaction) and the application of that knowledge is one of the larger gaps today. That gap seems to be much more difficult for folks to leap over in 2019.

Let me explain:

In this video below, Tony Robbins talks about “being stuck” and although he speaks more about self-confidence, self-expression, and life perspective, he also shares a really important point near the end of the video around two things:

1. The state that we are in (which can hold us back from the application of knowledge)

and

2. What is holding us in that state (which can hold us back from being able to gain and apply more knowledge over time)

Courtesy: www.youtube.com

3. Application of Knowledge → Communication of Knowledge (Knowledge exchange)

Many of us contain a lot of knowledge, but we are just too stuck to be able to share that knowledge with confidence, broadly.

Some of the brightest people in today’s world may be living among us yet no one would ever know.

Why?

Because they are stuck in the gap between the application of their knowledge and being able to properly communicate their knowledge.

Don’t believe me?

Take a look at the World Economic Forum’s list of skills required in the workforce.

Many of the skills found in their top 10 list require communication. Being able to apply and communicate knowledge to solve complex problems, create or innovate and to make proper business decisions all rely heavily on a team’s ability to have strong internal knowledge exchange.

It is not enough to just have knowledge that you can apply. Businesses alive and well in 2021 will have strong internal communications/knowledge exchange at their core of everything they do.

It is not surprising to see many young people entering the workforce with a strong base of knowledge but with very limited skills in the areas of being able to properly apply knowledge and communicate knowledge with others.

All levels of business and all layers of Government require the latter two to function effectively.

If you are still reading this it means that some parts of the three pieces I highlighted resonate with you. So, I would encourage you to focus in on one of these areas and really intensely action out how you are going to become better in those areas.

It is not enough now to say we have knowledge or to feel that we are the smartest person in the room.

It is also not enough now to think that we are good at applying knowledge.

In order to be successful professionally in 2021 (and beyond), we must be masters at our ability to share applied knowledge daily.

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This post was previously published on Medium.

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