Leaders Experiencing The Minute Details
Our “accumulated experience” and “inherited knowledge” are extremely important to us as leaders as they help shape our decision-making process, problem-solving skills, and overall leadership style. Experience allows us to learn from past successes and failures, giving us valuable insights that can guide us in making better decisions in the future. It also helps us earn the trust and respect of our team members, as they see us as someone who has been through various challenges and knows how to navigate them effectively. Overall, accumulated experience can make us a more effective and confident leader.
We were reminded by Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, just how important our accumulated experience and inherited knowledge are in My Story. He told us that, “Some say a leader must have a bird’s-eye view, looking at things from above so that he or she can assess them and make the relevant decisions. I say a leader must be on the ground living among the people, enduring their conditions, experiencing their lives and knowing the minute details of their suffering in order to change their situation for the better” (p. 67). I call this being the deer in the headlights. This is why I am also such a big advocate of, where possible, having people who have actually done what is being taught be the teachers of those transferable skills.
“Inherited knowledge” refers to the knowledge and expertise that is passed from one generation to the next within an organization or team. This knowledge can come in the form of best practices, lessons learned, and insights gained from past experiences.
Inherited knowledge is important to organizations and leadership because it allows them to build on the successes of the past and avoid repeating the mistakes that have been made before. By tapping into the collective wisdom of those who have come before, organizations can make more informed decisions, solve problems more effectively, and drive innovation.
Additionally, inherited knowledge can help to foster a sense of continuity and tradition within an organization, creating a sense of stability and cohesion among team members. It also enables leaders to mentor and develop the next generation of leaders, ensuring a smooth succession of leadership and the continued growth and success of the organization.
Adding New Skills To Our Repertoire
Having just returned from my maiden voyage to Dubai, United Arab Emirates, I have been doing quite a bit of studying on this new place I immediately fell in love with. Right now I am reading the great book by Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, My Story. In Chapter 17, Diving For A Living, he shared, “My father asked me to add a new skill to my repertoire, something that would expose me to an aspect of life I wasn’t used to seeing” (p. 65). I loved this because I have always tried to encourage and enable this with my son, Heath.
Continually adding new skills to our repertoire is important for personal and professional growth. By learning new skills, we can stay relevant in a rapidly changing world, adapt to new challenges, and improve our problem-solving abilities. Additionally, acquiring new skills can open up new opportunities for advancement in our careers and help us stay competitive in the job market. It’s important to never stop learning and to always be open to acquiring new knowledge and expertise. Adding new skills to our repertoire enables us to be ready for new opportunities that come our way.
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