Article: Questioning Knowledge

Newsletter Menu

Articles

•		Overview

•		Current Issue

•		Back Issues

•		Reprint Guidelines

Join CRM Coaching eNews
An occasional newsletter that delivers creative, practical and cross-culturally relevant articles and book reviews on leadership and coaching topics, to help you bridge the knowing-doing gap.

Questioning Knowledge
by Dr. Keith E. Webb
June 2008

Knowledge is overrated.

I used to think that if I knew the right things, I'd be set. After all, knowledge provides answers to solve problems, right?

We live in a knowledge economy where we live off what we know instead of what we physically produce. The Internet has made that information widely available to millions of people, most of whom are hungrier and more clever than myself. Living off of knowledge is getting tougher and tougher.

Knowledge has a short shelf life.
Change is everywhere and increasing. What used to be relevant and important isn't any longer. It's been replaced by new knowledge that will be out-of-date tomorrow.

Questions are change-proof.
I'm struck by this statement: "Questions rather than answers fundamentally drive the future." Knowledge isn't key, questions are!

Knowledge is past;
Questions are future.

Knowledge is rigid;
Questions can learn.

Knowledge is static;
Questions are dynamic.

Knowledge puffs up;
Questions take humility.

Knowledge limits options;
Questions create possibilities.

Knowledge requires adaptation;
Questions require innovation.

Questions are a journey.
Jesus said, "Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you" (Luke 11:9). All three verbs - ask, seek, and knock - are a journey of discovery. Knowledge doesn't help me ask, seek, or knock, because I think I already know!

Knowledge is a location;
Questions are a journey.

How would things change if we journeyed together through questions rather than endeavoring to persuade others to stand with us in our knowledge?

-------Join the dialogue and leave your comments here-------

Find more coaching articles here.

Editors, publishers & webmasters: You may reprint these articles free of charge if you follow our reprint guidelines.

Dr. Keith E. Webb is a trainer and experienced cross-cultural leadership coach helping organizations, teams, and individuals multiply their cross-cultural impact. Find free articles at http://www.CreativeResultsManagement.com.